Elsie Tanner
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The fictional soap opera character Elsie Tanner (born Elsie Grimshaw, known from 1970 until her marriage was dissolved in 1978 as Elsie Howard) was one of the first core characters on the enduringly popular British series Coronation Street. She was known for her fighting spirit and her red hair.
Elsie, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and again from 1976 to 1984, was looked down upon by many residents of the street, such as Mission Hall caretaker Ena Sharples and Rovers Return manageress Annie Walker, because she was "too common." A divorcée, Elsie had many sexual affairs, which shocked self-proclaimed "upper-crust" Annie and "moral voice" Ena. In reality, all Elsie wanted was a man to sweep her off her feet, but she ended up involving herself in lots of no-good men, who were usually married. 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 had two grown children, Linda and Dennis. At the beginning of the series, Linda had trouble with her Polish husband and his short temper, but they eventually reconciled and gave Elsie grandchildren. Dennis was shown to be sneaky and up to shenanigans. He was in prison before the start of the series and embarked on many "get rich quick" schemes to help himself and his mother.
Elsie married an American serviceman, Steve Tanner, in 1967 (they had been sweethearts during the War) but they had a falling-out, and he was eventually killed when he did not pay back gambling debts. She 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; in 1973, the two went to live in Newcastle. In 1976, she returned alone with the revelation that she and Alan had separated.
In late 1983, Bill Gregory arrived on the Street yet again (she had an affair with him more than twenty years before) and confessed his love for Elsie. He offered her the chance to be his wife and run a wine bar he owned in Portugal. After much agonizing and thought, she decided to leave the country to be with Bill. The night she left, she thought about all the bad memories she had over the years (squabbles with Annie and Ena, yelling at her son Dennis), but still smiled as she realized she wouldn't have given up living in the Street for the world.