6. Derek Wilton and Mavis Riley/Wilton 1976-1979, 1982, 1984, 1986-1997 (173 votes)
Derek was brought into the serial as the love interest of reserved Kabin assistant Mavis Riley in 1976 and they had an on/off romance, to the disapprovement of Derek’s mother Amy and Mavis’ aunt Edie. Derek failed to commit to Mavis due to his mother’s chagrin and it was only after her death that he proposed marriage to Mavis. But he found out he had to fight against potter Victor Pendlebury for Mavis’ affections in 1983. Derek won the battle and in 1984 they planned to marry, but Mavis had cold feet and when Rita went to tell Derek in church, he wasn’t there, he’d had cold feet as well! A Wilton jiltin’ indeed!Despite making an appearance in 1985 and 1986 it wasn’t until 1987 that he planned to romance Mavis again. He also revealed that he had married Angela Hawthorne (to Mavis’ horror!), but it was Mavis he truly loved and that he was seeking a divorce. This caused Angela to cite Mavis as the ‘other woman’! The couple finally married in 1988 and moved into the Kabin flat. He had to fight Victor again in 1990 and won. Although they were mocked for their eccentricities (gnomes and parsnips!) by their neighbours, they are still a firm favourite with viewers. Only married for nine years, the marriage ended when Derek died of a heart attack. A heartbroken Mavis decided to leave the street for Cartmel later that year.
Should the Wiltons be at 6? Were you a fan?
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