Norman Tindall was the cleaner and handyman at the Baytree Hotel that Ken Barlow booked himself into to get a break from the shock of Valerie Barlow's sudden death when he was supposed to be going up to Glasgow to be reunited with his children who had been sent there to be with their grandmother, Edith Tatlock. Norman was as puzzled as receptionist Yvonne Chappell at the behaviour of their mysterious guest, shutting himself into his room and refusing to come down for meals. Eventually Yvonne broke through Ken's reserve and he unburdened himself to her.