It has the hallmarks of a classic Corrie episode from what I've read,
Spoiler:
Also the men Rita gets involved with usually end up dead after a short while, I hope her wedding to Dennis isn't the lead up to his departure as I quite like him on the street.
I have a feeling that the kidnap plot will have something to do with Mary or Norris, I can definitely see it being one of those Corrie episodes that gets everyone talking and for once smiling
Collinson confirmed the full storyline on This Morning today (April 2), explaining: "What they discover as they're clearing out her house is that Annie Walker, who was the landlady of the Rovers Return for the first 20 years of the show, actually bequeathed The Rovers to Betty in her will.
"Betty carried this secret and never took up this bequest. So she's left behind a bit of a bombshell, really! Certainly for Stella in terms of who owns the pub now and what happens going forward.
"But more brilliantly I think, she'll always be the longest-serving landlady of the Rovers Return by right, which I think is such a brilliant tribute to her."
Collinson promised that Betty's farewell is "brilliant and moving", adding that it was "incredible" to see Bill Kenwright reprise the role of Gordon.
He explained: "Bill had become very close to Betty since being her on-screen son - he talked about her as being another mother. He came back to say goodbye to her, and it feels so personal and raw. It was for everybody, actually, as she was a very much-loved member of the team."
Collinson confirmed the full storyline on This Morning today (April 2), explaining: "What they discover as they're clearing out her house is that Annie Walker, who was the landlady of the Rovers Return for the first 20 years of the show, actually bequeathed The Rovers to Betty in her will.
"Betty carried this secret and never took up this bequest. So she's left behind a bit of a bombshell, really! Certainly for Stella in terms of who owns the pub now and what happens going forward.
"But more brilliantly I think, she'll always be the longest-serving landlady of the Rovers Return by right, which I think is such a brilliant tribute to her."
Collinson promised that Betty's farewell is "brilliant and moving", adding that it was "incredible" to see Bill Kenwright reprise the role of Gordon.
He explained: "Bill had become very close to Betty since being her on-screen son - he talked about her as being another mother. He came back to say goodbye to her, and it feels so personal and raw. It was for everybody, actually, as she was a very much-loved member of the team."
Okay, so some research has suggested that Annie Walker supposedly died in 1995, mentioned by Betty, but the pub tenancy was sold around 1983 by her son Billy, I assume then to Bet Lynch. So really, it wasn't Annie Walker's to give to Betty by 1995. So, why does the article suggest that Stella is left wondering if she owns the pub? Of course she does, and Betty therefore hasn't been the longest-serving landlady at all.
Okay, so some research has suggested that Annie Walker supposedly died in 1995, mentioned by Betty, but the pub tenancy was sold around 1983 by her son Billy, I assume then to Bet Lynch. So really, it wasn't Annie Walker's to give to Betty by 1995. So, why does the article suggest that Stella is left wondering if she owns the pub? Of course she does, and Betty therefore hasn't been the longest-serving landlady at all.
Totally agree, it's a stupid storyline, they could have done something better as a tribute to Betty - like bringing back Bet Lynch and other Corrie barmaids who worked with Betty over the years who would definitely attend her funeral!
From my understanding, Annie Walker held the licence for the Rovers but I *think* it was owned by the brewery. The brewery were always visiting and trying to persuade Annie to retire or move to a smaller pub in the country somewhere due to various problems like people breaking into the pub at night or Stan and Albert being locked n the celler. Had she owned it herself the brewery wouldnt have been so involved. When Annie left in late 1983 (written out quite suddenly due to Doris Speed leaving) Billy Walker followed by several short term managers including Fred Gee and Gordon Lewis ran the pub until Bet was made manager in January 1985. The pub was still owned by the brewery at this point. Bet then decided she wanted to buy the pub so got a loan off Alec Gilroy, she had trouble making the repayments and fled to Spain, Alec stepped in to run the pub then went to Spain to track her down. Alec stepped bought the pub and asked Bet to marry him. They then ran the pub together until Alec was offered a new job down south and he then sold the pub back to the brewary in 1992. Bet decided not to go, they split up and she was allowed to become manager again. The brewery were selling off some of their pubs in 1995 including the Rovers, Bet tried to get a loan off Rita and then Vicky but was turned down so she left. The Duckworths ended up buying the pub as as far as I know its not been owned by the brewery since. Alec owned it with the Duckworths for a while, then Natalie, then Fred (with Shelly as manager), then Steve (with Liz manager) and now Stella.
Im not sure when Annie was supposed to die off screen, i think 1994 is only mentioned because that is when Doris Speed passed away. She could have passed away any time from 1985 onwards as she was mentioned by Bet in 1995 as still being alive.
So therefore there would be no way that Betty would own the pub.
As said above The pub was never owned by Bet Gilroy or Alec Gilroy. Alec loaned Bet the £15,000 to buy the tenancy - it was still a Newton and Ridley owned building/pub. Bet realised she couldn't afford his replayments so vanished to spain. Betty, who was friendly with one of the Ridley's went with Alec to persuade N&R to sign the pub as Alec's until they could bring back Bet.
Newton and Ridley decided to sell six pubs in 1995 and The Rovers was one of them. This lead to Bet leaving as Rita and Alec's grand daughter both refused to fund the £66,000 it was going to cost to buy. The first owners of the pub were Vera and Jack Duckworth. It had always before that been a Brewery owned pub. Thats what I remembered anyway from the time.
The Newton and Ridley signs were taken down when Vera and Jack took over, they only re-appeared in 2010 for the 50th - with no explination to why the N&R was back on the building. Also Betty was quite upset about leaving so depending on when she "found out" Annie had left it, she'd not have let Bet go. Very odd.
So this new story is a bit off really. Not fitting for Betty at all!
Duty Free. Gosh. Blast from the past. Loved it, actually.
Aye, that was her best-known role. Before Coro she was Aunt Peggy in Heartbeart, the last of the 'loveable rogue' lineage on the programme. She looked a lot less glamorous with lank, long grey hair, a tatty hat and (false) decayed teeth!
And Conjugal Rites..? No? Just me then...
And Barbara. With that other lady from Corrie.
Indeedy so: Sherie Hewson, who played Maureen Holdsworth
Brilliant episodes tonight and exactly what I expected from Coronation Street. You can tell that the actors were not only mourning the character, but also the brilliant actress and friend. It's just a shame some more old characters, in particular Bet, didn't come back as tabloids were speculating.
They definitely did the whole Rovers being bequeathed to Betty well. Rather than taking it down the legal route, which wouldn't have been plausible, they made it more ceremonial. It's also nice to think that the photograph of Betty will remain in the Rovers for many years to come.
Brilliant episodes tonight and exactly what I expected from Coronation Street. You can tell that the actors were not only mourning the character, but also the brilliant actress and friend. It's just a shame some more old characters, in particular Bet, didn't come back as tabloids were speculating.
They definitely did the whole Rovers being bequeathed to Betty well. Rather than taking it down the legal route, which wouldn't have been plausible, they made it more ceremonial. It's also nice to think that the photograph of Betty will remain in the Rovers for many years to come.
Yeah that photo is a nice touch! Although it's going to make me sad watching Corrie!