Deirdre Anne Barlow (née Hunt, previously Langton and Rachid) was a long-standing Coronation Street resident, formerly married to Ken Barlow. Deirdre grew up in Weatherfield, raised by her mother Blanche as Deirdre's dad Donald died in February 1963 when Deirdre was seven. She first arrived in Coronation Street in 1972 and got a job as secretary at the Builder's Yard, and a marriage to owner Ray Langton followed only weeks after Deirdre's fiancé Billy Walker broke off their engagement. The marriage ended in 1978 when Ray had an affair with Janice Stubbs, and Deirdre decided that the trust was gone from their relationship. Deirdre continued to raise their daughter Tracy by herself while Ray moved to Holland.