Yes, Hilda always had a heart of gold, but the scriptwriters definitely softened her character after she was widowed on the show, with Stan's TV death on 21st November 1984 (the actor who played him, Bernard Youens, had sadly died of a heart attack on 27th August of that year). With Stan and also her former lodger Eddie Yeates gone from The Street (her partners-in-crime for so many legendary scenes), the writers had a challenge finding storylines for Hilda outside of her job at the Rovers pub. Their solution was to move garage mechanic Kevin Webster into her home as a lodger - and latterly his wife-to-be, Sally. This led to lots of plots between her and the young couple. She didn't like Sally initially, as she came from the wrong side of the tracks and Hilda felt she wasn't good enough for Kevin (she could be a shocking snob!) But they became the best of friends, and Hilda even started dating Sally's uncle Tom Hopwood at one point, a kindly, widowed greengrocer. Tom was a regular character from December 1986 to September 1987,when he left the show after Hilda turned down his marriage proposal out of loyalty to Stan. But of course Hilda was persuaded to leave her marital home - and the famous cobbles - soon after, when she left to work as live-in housekeeper for the widowed Dr Lowther on Christmas Day 1987. Sad to think these were some of Hilda's last scenes - but I guess all good things must come to an end. She was a truly iconic Coronation Street character, and in my view her departure was the beginning of the end of the show's never to be repeated - or matched - glory years under super-producer Bill Podmore, from 1976 - 1987.

Great comment about a tremendous character and actor. Its ironic but a cockney may have been the number one character in this northern drama

@@nandsall9492 He's definitely one of the best for sure.

He was a great actor and one of the best characters.

Apart from a lack of money for retakes, it is more realistic.

Yep, they let them through as it sounds more natural. Plus, if it's the last scene filmed off the end of a 12 hour day, everyone's tired and wants to go home! 😂❤

Same here 👍

Brilliant character

He's a great character, but how does he put up with Emily Bishop? She's a tiresome, holier than Thou pain in the arse.

I never saw him as a villain in anyway. He was firm, no nonsense, but always compassionate.

it's no wonder Tracy ended up the way she did

They were getting ready to change Traceys so they keep her off camera until then.

Child care

The actress who had previously played Tracey at this point had moved with her parents away from the Manchester area and they had not told Granada. So when a new storyline featuring Tracey started in 1985 concerning Ken adopting her and running away to her step sister Susan's they needed a new actress

The writers forgot what was written.

And don't forget how Bet decided to disappear when it was home time, no wonder Mavis was so worried!

What year was that? Didn't see that one

And what's the script with Rita thinking she's some sort of "must invite" riotous party animal more than Mavis when her only claim to fame to being more exciting than Mavis is singing badly at some shady clubs yonks ago. She's a pain in the arse.

Deirdre ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥👁👄👁

Hilda's lodger was only there to demonise the striking minners

​@@nicholasgargano7396ohhhh I see!!!! He was quite boring

@@dementednun1175 had John Christie vibes lol

I see the mid 80s as a kind of transition period where many of the old characters either left or died and they struggled to replace them until later in the decade ironically after Bill Podmore who was undoubtedly one of the Streets best producers had left

He's a businessman - I've never met an honest one 😂

Hildas a rat 😅

😂😂😂

I swear, every woman has an annoying voice on here.

they're in fashion again, which we all rejoice* *we don't rejoice

non stop passive aggression

She really was but at the heart of it lied very poor self image.

She never stopped taking the mick and teasing poor daft Mavis. It got on my nerves a bit too.

The Fairclough's were both horrible to Mavis, and she rarely stood up for herself.

I agree. I wouldn’t want to work Mavis up. When she starts gulping, her eyes bulging, and creaking voice, I want to give Rita a smack.

True!

They got someone in…don’t overthink it, it’s fictional.

The Kabin. Frequently misspelled. 😊

And the sign writer was illiterate - "The Kabin" 🙄

I thought that.

Yes true Mike Slipped up his ego took over

He'd done business with that bloke before. Of course he would.

A very poor substitute for Uncle Albert tbh.

@@londonlady227 Percy was a great character, and very well played by Bill Waddington. Uncle Albert was far too cantankerous and unappreciative.

I hate percy.

Julie Goodyear had huge delusions of grandeur in real life and thought she was the star of the show. Watch her interview with Piers Morgan - vile woman.

I like Betty and overall, I think she's a decent person. But she is two faced and talks about people behind their backs

Totaly agree

@@emmaclarke2885 I liked her too but she could be a bit nasty at times. She even suggested to Wilf that maybe they should contact the Brewery about Bet going on holiday, I thought that was sly of her.

He also played a trucker a couple of years before this episode, who helped Marion find Eddie Yates in Liverpool.

And he has also been in emmerdale

Betty is a lovely woman and I loved how she could double take and get loud at 100mph without missing a beat. And their was really no acting involved hence Betty playing Betty. Keeping their names usually happens when actors are themselves, Sid for example. Now you know who I mean don't you?

I love her. She's so real and reminds me of my grandmother and her sisters.

I agree. Something about her grated me.

I like Betty. She reminds me of my aunt. Very dry and frank, but extremely funny with a heart of gold. Her voice makes her even funnier!

That constant verbal ticking and coughing ,you know "huh huh huh *cough cough* aye hmmmm huh huh huh *cough*" and interminable "AWWWWWWW IIII MEEEAAAAN" drive me doolally !

Fred brought it from Mrs walker, he then raffled it and percy won it, he then sold it to kevin for £50.

@@Cackle77 Fred actually bought it from Brian, who bought it from the insurance company when they wrote it off after Eddie Yeats backed the bin lorry into it. Brian fixed it back up himself and put it back on the road, but decided it was too expensive to run, and sold it to Fred. The rest you know!

Yep

That’s what the pay cheque is for. Hail Baldwin!

The return is not being on the dole.

you may laugh but my aunt had a hair dressers business in the very early 70s and that till in the Kabin is exactly like the one my aunt had in her shop. It wasn't much more than a drawer with compartments really. But it had a roll of paper built into the box and every-time she put money from a sale into the till it would be written down on the paper roll - then added up at the end of the day!

@@booth2710Thanks for that.x

He was hired for his muscles! 😂

Well being a Northener myself I would say that he appears to be coping admirably, but thank you for the patronising comment all the same.

He does display the traits of a Mancunian....that's for sure, as Baldwin displays the traits of a London wide boy.

bahahah

guess those down south don't like northeners well I'm one and bloody proud of it .

A vacation didn’t cost thousands back then, but I get what you’re saying. They had a house before - one that was way too small and way too expensive. They only got it because Gail wouldn’t stop whining and Ivy gave them her and Bert’s holiday money. When Brian had an opportunity to buy out the co-owner of the garage, Gail nagged him to do it. She agreed they would sell their house and move back in with Ivy so they could save money and also invest in the garage. But, in no time at all, Gail was back to whining about a house again. She’s the worst.

It's Bet not Bette

Gail

@@pedanticradiator1491 It’s also spelled Gayle.

​@@chicagogyrl4846 it can be yes but not in the case of this character plus they had a small house before they bought the garage not a flat

When I lived in London in my early 20s from Australia, my housemates couldn't believe I had a shower every morning before work!

Veera and her pals weren't exactly the brightest crayons in the box.

Yea a few cans short of a 6pk for sure. They just like to have something to flip out about.

It's Rhyl and it's in Wales.