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| - After taking over as producer at the end of 1982, Mervyn Watson's first episodes were screened at the beginning of the year, with his predecessor Bill Podmore assuming the role of executive producer. In February, the programme resolved one of its most high-profile storylines ever in the Ken-Deirdre-Mike love triangle. According to Podmore, the story was devised as a means to add excitement back into Ken's life, as he had become "a very boring man", a situation recognised by the writers and William Roache. The writers only decided while writing the story that Deirdre would choose to stay with Ken. Famously, the spectators at Old Trafford during a Manchester vs Arsenal match were informed of the outcome of the storyline over the scoreboard.
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| abstract
| - After taking over as producer at the end of 1982, Mervyn Watson's first episodes were screened at the beginning of the year, with his predecessor Bill Podmore assuming the role of executive producer. In February, the programme resolved one of its most high-profile storylines ever in the Ken-Deirdre-Mike love triangle. According to Podmore, the story was devised as a means to add excitement back into Ken's life, as he had become "a very boring man", a situation recognised by the writers and William Roache. The writers only decided while writing the story that Deirdre would choose to stay with Ken. Famously, the spectators at Old Trafford during a Manchester vs Arsenal match were informed of the outcome of the storyline over the scoreboard. William Tarmey completed his journey from extra to full-time regular when Jack and Vera Duckworth moved into Coronation Street in Chalkie Whitely's old house. Their Machiavellian teenage son Terry was introduced at the same time, played by Nigel Pivaro. Terry was first of a new wave of young male characters who debuted in 1983, the others being nerdy binman Curly Watts and cheerful mechanic Kevin Webster, with Kevin Kennedy and Michael Le Vell joining the cast respectively. Other newcomers included insufferable pensioner Percy Sugden, who took over Ena Sharples's old position of Community Centre caretaker, and recurring factory girl Shirley Armitage, the programme's first black regular. Aside from the Deirdre/Mike affair, tabloid headlines concerning Coronation Street were dominated by scandal. Early in the year, Peter Adamson took time off from the programme to stand trial on charges of indecently assaulting two young girls in a public swimming bath. He was acquitted of the charges, but while on leave from the programme he angered producers by selling his story to a tabloid, in breach of contract. The producers insisted on receiving his assurance that he would not do so again, but Adamson refused and was sacked. To maximise drama, Len's off-screen death in a car crash in December was followed by Rita Fairclough's discovery that he'd been visiting his mistress, Marjorie Proctor. The year also saw the final on-screen appearance of Doris Speed as Annie Walker, the original landlady of the Rovers Return, after 23 years. Speed was recovering from a stomach complaint when the Daily Mirror printed a story that she was, at 84, fifteen years older than she claimed publicly. After suffering a relapse, Speed was written out of the programme for the time being. This was shortly followed by a break-in at Speed's home by two young thugs, who ransacked the place while the actress hid upstairs waiting for the police. The event was the final straw for Speed who retired immediately afterwards. Peter Dudley, who played Bert Tilsley, suffered a stroke while awaiting a re-trial on a charge of importuning, at which he intended to plead not guilty. The stroke caused Dudley to lose the use of his left arm, which was incorporated into storylines with Bert being injured in a gas explosion. He was subsequently written out to stand trial, but suffered two heart attacks and a stroke and died before it could take place. Both Annie and Bert's exits were dealt with the following year. The programme also lost Eddie Yeats when Geoffrey Hughes resigned after nine years. Hughes was disappointed with the decision to have Eddie marry as he viewed the character as a bachelor. Marion Yeats was written out with him. The year also marked the beginning of a lengthy absence for Tracy Langton when Christabel Finch's family moved out of Manchester without informing the producers. It was decided not to recast Tracy until some time had passed, as producers felt that viewers would find it jarring. Yet another blow came late in the year when another of the original cast, Patricia Phoenix, decided to leave. Her final scenes - a romantic reunion with her old flame Bill Gregory - were recorded in 1983 but weren't shown until January 1984.
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