Bin man Norman ‘Curly’ Watts’ originally lodged with Emily Bishop and was best friends with Kevin Webster and Terry Duckworth and was seen as a geek. In 1989, he was hired as an assistant at Bettabuys and developed a comical double act with manager Reg Holdsworth. Like Reg, Curly was an unlikely Lothario with his conquests including Kimberley Taylor, Anne Malone, Angie Freeman, Maxine Heavey and two drunken nights of passion with Maureen Naylor/Holdsworth. In 1995, he married Rovers barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme (who held a torch for), but within a few months she left him for a job in Malaysia. She returned briefly in 2000 to tell him that he had a daughter called Alice. The same year, he met and married policewoman Emma Taylor and son Ben was born in 2001 (with Norris acting as midwife!). Curly had a passion for astrology and was often scene in the attic looking through his telescope and even named a star Mrs Raquel Watts, to her amazement. After 20 years, Curly left the street when Emma was transferred to Newcastle. Should Curly be halfway? Were you a fan? Leave a comment!
29. Annie Walker 1960-1983 (60 votes)
Personally, I did think Mrs Walker would have had more votes because I think she’s a classic character. But there you go. She was the landlady of the Rovers Return between 1937 and 1983 and was dubbed Queen of Coronation Street and is known for her snobbishness and delusions of grandeur. She even played Elizabeth I on the Jubilee float in 1977! Married to Jack for 33 years, they formed one of the earliest double-acts in the serial’s history. She also enjoyed a long rivalry with Flying Horse landlady Nellie Harvey. Annie was heartbroken when Jack died suddenly in 1970 but continued to run the pub in his honour. With an absence of a man behind the bar, Annie’s son Billy returned and helped his mother before fleeing to Jersey in 1975. With Billy gone, Annie was glad to hire Fred Gee as a live-in cellar man. And who can forget her faithful subjects? Betty Turpin had been a barmaid since 1969 and Bet Lynch began the following year and was instrumental in running the pub while Annie played hostess. By the 1980s, Annie depended heavily on her staff and was often seen overlooking the goings-on and reminiscing with old regulars Len, Elsie and Albert. Annie retired to Derby in 1983 and left the pub in the hands of Billy. Or did she? We’ll find out the truth this week! Check out who's at 32 and 31.
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