Elsie Tanner
Encyclopedia
Elsie Tanner is a fictional character from the British ITV
soap opera Coronation Street
, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on Coronation Street and appeared in the very first episode. She is considered somewhat of an icon in soap history and regarded as one of Coronation Street's greatest ever characters.
Her final appearance came in January 1984, when Elsie emigrated to Portugal
. Actress Pat Phoenix
had taken the decision to quit the series in 1983 to pursue other projects, declaring that the security of the Street was fine, but that she had decided to move on.
Three years after leaving, Pat died, and a few months later, a special video special titled "The Lives and Loves of Elsie Tanner" had the return of Anne Cunningham as Elsie's daughter Linda, hinting about Elsie's previous passing and including archive footage for flashbacks. However 24 years later when Philip Lowrie returned as Elsie's son Dennis Tanner, it was revealed Elsie had died in a car accident along with Bill Gregory in 2004, meaning the video isn't canon to the actual show, although the events weren't mentioned anyways.
At the beginning of the series, Elsie already had two grown children, Linda and Dennis from her first marriage to Arnold Tanner. Linda had trouble with her Polish
husband and his short temper, but they eventually reconciled and gave Elsie grandchildren. Coronation Streets creator, Tony Warren had originally planned the character of Dennis to be rather gritty and a real "bad boy", however actor Philip Lowrie's charm and knack for comedy led to Dennis becoming much more lighthearted. Dennis was shown to be sneaky and up to shenanigans, and embarked on many "get rich quick" schemes to help himself and his mother.
Elsie flirted on and off for many years with Len Fairclough, but that ended when he married Rita Littlewood
in 1977. Even after Len's marriage to Rita, she remained his close friend.
Elsie married an ex-lover from the war
, American serviceman Steve Tanner in 1967 (played by Canadian actor Paul Maxwell
). Due to the massive popularity of Elsie during the 1960s, Steve was given the same surname so that Elsie would not have to change her name when married. Elsie left to live in America with Steve, but soon returned to Coronation Street after they split up. Steve came back to the UK in an attempt to win back Elsie, but shortly after his return he was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. This led many of the residents of Coronation Street to be in the frame for murdering Steve, however it was later revealed that one of Steve's former Servicemen, Joe Donelli had committed the crime.
Free from her marriage to Steve, Elsie then married Alan Howard in 1970 (Alan was played by Alan Browning
, who would become Patricia Phoenix's real-life husband). This marriage was also filled with rough patches; shortly after they married, script-writers quickly bankrupted affluent Alan to ensure that Elsie would have to remain in Weatherfield. Eventually, in 1973, the two went to live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1976, Elsie returned alone with the revelation that she and Alan had separated. They later divorced. Elsie was also involved with bookie Dave Smith in the early 1970s, owner of local football team Weatherfield County FC.
After her third failed marriage, Elsie quickly surrounded herself with youngsters and acted as a somewhat surrogate mother to Suzie Birchall and Gail Potter
(now McIntyre), who lodged with Elsie at No.11 during the late 1970s. Elsie saw a lot of herself in young Suzie, who was somewhat gregarious and enjoyed the company of men, however it was Elsie's relationship with Gail which would inevitably be the strongest.
During her time, Elsie Tanner took a diverse range of occupations, including shop worker, croupier, machinist and factory supervisor, café worker and model. At the start of the series, Elsie worked in the department store "Miami Modes" and later continued her retail tradition when working at "Sylvia's Separates" dress shop in the 1970s. She also worked alongside Vera Duckworth
, Ivy Tilsley and Ida Clough at Baldwin's Casuals clothing factory, where she spent some time working as supervisor.
In late 1983, Bill Gregory arrived on the Street yet again (she had an affair with him more than twenty years earlier, and she last saw him in 1970) and confessed that he was still in love with Elsie. He offered her the chance to be his wife and run a wine
bar he owned in Portugal
. After much agonising and thought, she decided to leave Coronation Street to be with Bill. On the night she left, Elsie walked down the street and memories from the past filled her head; squabbles with Annie and Ena, and yelling at her son Dennis. While clutching photographs of Linda and Dennis, she smiled knowing that her life in Coronation Street had left her with no regrets.
As she got into the taxi that was to take her to the train station, the driver asked her if she was to be away for long. Giving him a knowing smile, Elsie replied: "Ah! Now there's a question!". The taxi drove off into the night as Elsie left Weatherfield forever.
In May 2011, following the return of her son Dennis Tanner, it was revealed that Elsie Tanner had died in 2004 after her car crashed off a cliff, with rumour having that she was still holding the hand of her long time husband Bill Gregory. Elsie died as she had lived- never doing anything by half, and had been lucky to have 20 long, happy years living the high life in the Algarve.
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on Coronation Street and appeared in the very first episode. She is considered somewhat of an icon in soap history and regarded as one of Coronation Street's greatest ever characters.
Her final appearance came in January 1984, when Elsie emigrated to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Actress Pat Phoenix
Pat Phoenix
Patricia "Pat" Frederica Phoenix was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street.-Early life and career:Born in Ireland to Anna Maria Josephine Noonan and Tom Manfield, but moved to Manchester before...
had taken the decision to quit the series in 1983 to pursue other projects, declaring that the security of the Street was fine, but that she had decided to move on.
Three years after leaving, Pat died, and a few months later, a special video special titled "The Lives and Loves of Elsie Tanner" had the return of Anne Cunningham as Elsie's daughter Linda, hinting about Elsie's previous passing and including archive footage for flashbacks. However 24 years later when Philip Lowrie returned as Elsie's son Dennis Tanner, it was revealed Elsie had died in a car accident along with Bill Gregory in 2004, meaning the video isn't canon to the actual show, although the events weren't mentioned anyways.
Characterisation
Elsie is dubbed as the "siren of the street throughout the 1960s". She is described as having a passion for men and got hurt by all of them. In her later years she is described as struggling to keep up her glamour and has a series of sleazy one-night stands and dead-end jobs.Storylines
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
husband and his short temper, but they eventually reconciled and gave Elsie grandchildren. Coronation Streets creator, Tony Warren had originally planned the character of Dennis to be rather gritty and a real "bad boy", however actor Philip Lowrie's charm and knack for comedy led to Dennis becoming much more lighthearted. Dennis was shown to be sneaky and up to shenanigans, and embarked on many "get rich quick" schemes to help himself and his mother.
Elsie flirted on and off for many years with Len Fairclough, but that ended when he married Rita Littlewood
Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan is a long-standing character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
in 1977. Even after Len's marriage to Rita, she remained his close friend.
Elsie married an ex-lover from the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, American serviceman Steve Tanner in 1967 (played by Canadian actor Paul Maxwell
Paul Maxwell
Paul Maxwell was a Canadian actor who worked mostly in British television and films, in which he was usually cast as an American...
). Due to the massive popularity of Elsie during the 1960s, Steve was given the same surname so that Elsie would not have to change her name when married. Elsie left to live in America with Steve, but soon returned to Coronation Street after they split up. Steve came back to the UK in an attempt to win back Elsie, but shortly after his return he was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. This led many of the residents of Coronation Street to be in the frame for murdering Steve, however it was later revealed that one of Steve's former Servicemen, Joe Donelli had committed the crime.
Free from her marriage to Steve, Elsie then married Alan Howard in 1970 (Alan was played by Alan Browning
Alan Browning
Alan Browning was an English film and television actor, born in Sunderland. He is best remembered as the character Alan Howard in the television series Coronation Street, a role he played from 1969 until 1973...
, who would become Patricia Phoenix's real-life husband). This marriage was also filled with rough patches; shortly after they married, script-writers quickly bankrupted affluent Alan to ensure that Elsie would have to remain in Weatherfield. Eventually, in 1973, the two went to live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1976, Elsie returned alone with the revelation that she and Alan had separated. They later divorced. Elsie was also involved with bookie Dave Smith in the early 1970s, owner of local football team Weatherfield County FC.
After her third failed marriage, Elsie quickly surrounded herself with youngsters and acted as a somewhat surrogate mother to Suzie Birchall and Gail Potter
Gail Platt
Gail McIntyre is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Helen Worth, the character first appeared on screen on 12 July 1974...
(now McIntyre), who lodged with Elsie at No.11 during the late 1970s. Elsie saw a lot of herself in young Suzie, who was somewhat gregarious and enjoyed the company of men, however it was Elsie's relationship with Gail which would inevitably be the strongest.
During her time, Elsie Tanner took a diverse range of occupations, including shop worker, croupier, machinist and factory supervisor, café worker and model. At the start of the series, Elsie worked in the department store "Miami Modes" and later continued her retail tradition when working at "Sylvia's Separates" dress shop in the 1970s. She also worked alongside Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
, Ivy Tilsley and Ida Clough at Baldwin's Casuals clothing factory, where she spent some time working as supervisor.
In late 1983, Bill Gregory arrived on the Street yet again (she had an affair with him more than twenty years earlier, and she last saw him in 1970) and confessed that he was still in love with Elsie. He offered her the chance to be his wife and run a wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
bar he owned in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. After much agonising and thought, she decided to leave Coronation Street to be with Bill. On the night she left, Elsie walked down the street and memories from the past filled her head; squabbles with Annie and Ena, and yelling at her son Dennis. While clutching photographs of Linda and Dennis, she smiled knowing that her life in Coronation Street had left her with no regrets.
As she got into the taxi that was to take her to the train station, the driver asked her if she was to be away for long. Giving him a knowing smile, Elsie replied: "Ah! Now there's a question!". The taxi drove off into the night as Elsie left Weatherfield forever.
In May 2011, following the return of her son Dennis Tanner, it was revealed that Elsie Tanner had died in 2004 after her car crashed off a cliff, with rumour having that she was still holding the hand of her long time husband Bill Gregory. Elsie died as she had lived- never doing anything by half, and had been lucky to have 20 long, happy years living the high life in the Algarve.