Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) is set to make Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) redundant from the flower shop next week on Coronation Street, ending their long-running odd-couple partnership. The decision comes as Tracy offers her daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney) the job of running the shop's website, forcing her to cut staffing costs.
A Beloved Partnership on the Cobbles
Tracy first employed Mary at her flower shop, Preston's Pals, back in 2016. The pairing of the sharp, cynical and lazy boss with her eccentric, over-enthusiastic employee became a comedy highlight, with Tracy even thwarting an attempted kidnap of Mary's grandson by locking Jude's wife in the florist.
Despite Tracy's history of diabolical acts, including bashing boyfriend Charlie Stubbs to death with an ornament and spiking Roy Cropper with a date rape drug to win a one pound bet, the pair developed a genuine mutual respect and friendship.
The Redundancy Decision
When Tracy offers Amy the job of running the flower shop website, Amy is over the moon. But Tracy confides in Abi (Sally Carman-Duttine) that she will have to cut her staffing costs by making Mary redundant.
Realising that Amy being on board means she is out of a job, Mary hugs Tracy, thanks her for all she's done, and heads out in tears. Tracy feels terrible about the decision.
The storyline marks the end of the road for one of the most beloved comedy duos on the Cobbles.
