For more than 60 years, Coronation Street has been a constant on our television screens. has experienced its fair share of catastrophes during that time, including horrifying accidents and gruesome murders.
But nothing nearly has the same impact on the millions of viewers of the soap opera as the passing of a favorite character. Earlier this week, a beloved character on the soap opera passed away after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, causing heartbreaking scenes.
Paul Foreman was taken to the hospital while having breathing difficulties, and he later breathed his last after the physicians told him there was nothing more they could do. But in an even more tragic turn of events, Billy Mayhew, his spouse, was unable to be to the hospital in time for a farewell conversation.
The scenes left the soap’s fans devastated. But the writers, actors and crew working on the show have a long track record of portraying the death of its beloved characters sensitively – while at the same time retaining the drama loved by the soap’s fans.
In light of this challenging episode, we’ve put together a list of eight of the saddest Coronation Street storylines over the past 25-years. Of course, this doesn’t cover all the deaths in the soap over this period, so any you feel should have made the list let us know in the comments.
Sinead Osbourne dies from cancer (2019)
Sinead’s storyline left viewers in tears, after she died surrounded by her family following a long battle with cervical cancer. A one-hour episode was broadcast in October 2019 about Sinead (Katie McGlynn), in which she took her last breaths while husband Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) held their son Bertie.
In the moments before, she had told Daniel she was not ready to go and feared that her son would not remember her, as well as telling Daniel to move on once she had died, saying: “Don’t forget about me, but do forget about me,” before taking his hand.
She later died during a bedtime story for Bertie, with Daniel bursting into tears before the scene faded to black.
Hayley Cropper’s death (2014)
Hayley Cropper’s Corrie entrance and exit were mired in controversy. But for all the drama surrounding the Street’s first transgender character and first cancer suicide, the essence of the character’s final episode was a poignant conclusion of a gentle love story.
Beautifully written and brilliantly acted, Hayley said goodbye to Roy in compelling scenes that will live in the memory for years to come. The awkwardness of Roy and Hayley’s stilted conversations reflected the lack of consensus between the couple over Hayley’s suicidal intentions right up until the end when Roy tries to wrestle the toxic cocktail from her grasp.
This was juxtaposed against the tender actions of the husband helping his wife do up the buttons of her lilac twin set, giving her a last present and playing her favourite tune.
Right until the end, Roy desperately tries to persuade Hayley to change her mind. But Hayley wasn’t for turning and says: “Right, the time has come” taking charge in a very un-Hayley like way, there was only one way she was leaving this episode.
It felt raw and real – beautiful on the ear but not on the eye. At times it left you longing for an ad break as a reprieve but you couldn’t possibly switch off. This was classic heart breaking Corrie.
Jack Duckworth’s death (2010)
Jack Duckworth’s emotional farewell epitomised the lengths Coronation Street would go to ensure that a much-loved Weatherfield stalwart had a death befitting his status. Bill Tarmey played pigeon fancier Jack for 31 years and by all accounts was as popular off screen as on, so it was apt he should have a heart-rending send-off.
The scene was set when Jack’s neighbours gathered around him in the Rovers to wish him a surprise 74th birthday, organised by the young man he wished was his natural son, Tyrone. After returning from the Rovers, the work-shy former pot man left to be reunited with his dearly departed Vera.
Bringing back Vera as a ghost sounded a bit Dallas-esque until you watched Jack’s last moments with his beloved battleaxe. She told him to put his paper down, he called her his little swamp duck and asked her to dance.
Cue much sniffing in millions of households as one of soap’s greatest husband and wife double acts swayed lovingly to Matt Monro. The scene had the soap’s die-hard fans in tears as Jack died in the same chair where Vera passed away two years earlier.
Vera Duckworth’s sudden death (2008)
Jack and Vera Duckworth were inseparable on the cobbles, with the couple providing much needed comic relief throughout their time in Weatherfield. However Vera’s death would be one of the most devastating, after Vera asked Jack to spend the evening with her instead of going to the Rovers’ Return.
Jack told Vera he would not be long, but after he returned home, he discovered that Vera had died in her sleep from heart failure, leaving Jack – and many viewers – inconsolable.
Tram Crash (2010)
Soap anniversaries usually come with their fair share of dramatic moments – but Coronation Street’s 50th anniversary saw the death of many fan favourites too. Beloved Weatherfield butcher Ashley Peacock was one of the residents to die in a tragic tram crash, leaving fans in tears as the long serving resident left the cobbles for good.
Ashley had been in the Joinery Bar celebrating Peter Barlow’s stag night, but a tram derailment caused the roof to collapse and in a moment of heroism, Ashley held part of the roof up so Peter and Nick to escape – knowing that he would die instead.
The tram crash also claimed the life of Molly Dobbs, and further shock was to follow, as Molly Dobbs revealed to Sally Webster in her dying breaths that she had an affair with Sally’s husband Kevin – and that he was the father of her baby.
Mike Baldwin’s death (2006)
In 2005, aging wide-boy Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 63 in the soap. In heart breaking scenes he asked Rita Fairclough how her husband Len was when he had died more than 20 years earlier, and in the Rovers Return, he asked where Bet Lynch was when she had left 10 years earlier.
His last appearance on April 7 2006 came after he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia, but escaped when grandson Jamie left his side for a moment. After making it back to his beloved factory on Coronation Street, he was found by his old rival Ken.
Shivering Mike began deteriorating rapidly and as unburdened his soul to Ken about his 1980s affair with Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), before suffering a massive heart attack. Mike’s son Danny (Bradley Walsh) arrives on the scene and desperately tries to revive his father. But attempts to resuscitate him fail, leaving Ken and Danny crying on the cobbles.
Fred Elliott dies on his wedding day (2006)
Long-standing fans of the ITV soap may remember John Savident (who died earlier this year) arriving on the cobbles as Fred Elliott in 1994. He quickly became a fan favourite known for his booming voice while playing Weatherfield’s local butcher.
Over the years, his storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals. Secret son Ashley Peacock, played by Steven Arnold, also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together.
But it was Fred’s death on what should have been the happiest day of his life that would stick with fans for years to come. Set to marry Bev Unwin, viewers saw Fred struggling to come to terms with his feelings for two women after former love interest Audrey Roberts confessed she still loved him.
As his wedding day dawns, Fred is still troubled by her declaration as the ceremony draws closer. Overcome with anxiety, he rushes from the church to see Audrey to break the news that he was marrying Bev, who he loved.
On the way out of Audrey’s house, Fred collapses and dies after suffering a massive stroke, leaving everyone devastated.
Alma Halliwell’s death (2001)
14 million viewers watched Alma Halliwell, played by Amanda Barrie, die from cervical cancer surrounded by her friends back in 2001. Not wanting to die in hospital, she passed away in Audrey Roberts’ house with her best friend by her side.
Also at her bedside for this tear-jerking episode was former husband, Mike Baldwin, and ex-lover Ken Barlow. A regular character in the soap from 1988 to 2001 (despite earlier appearances) Alma’s last words on her death bed were “you choose”, when asked by former husband Mike Baldwin if she wanted to listen to music.
