Emily Bishop
Encyclopedia
Emily Bishop is a long-standing fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actress Eileen Derbyshire
, the character is the longest-standing female character in the series after first appearing onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1961.
(Arthur Lowe
), her boss at Gamma Garments, but jilts him at the altar. A very moral woman, Emily prides herself on saving herself for marriage, but her resolve is eventually weakened and she has sex with her Hungarian revolutionary boyfriend Miklos Zadic (Paul Stassino) in 1968. She later confides in her friend Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid
) that she has no regrets about the encounter; Emily is, by that time, 39 years old and assumes it will be now or never.
In 1969, with Miklos out of the picture, Emily falls in love with mild-mannered Ernest Bishop (Stephen Hancock
) after meeting him at his mother's funeral. Their courtship is tested many times over and lasts for three years. In August 1971, they are engaged. The next year, Ernest is jailed in Majorca and subsequently freed, and it is at this time that they get married, broadcast across the UK on Easter Monday
.
Despite rough patches, Emily and Ernest's marriage is relatively stable and they love each other very much. Emily miscarries in 1972 and starts the menopause
in 1974, dashing their chances of having a child of their own. This leads to many arguments between them, and they are forced to re-evaluate their marriage after just two years. They turn to short-term fostering to assuage Emily's need to connect with young children.
Ernest—portrayed by actor Stephen Hancock—was killed off when Hancock clashed with the management in Granada Television and the then-producer of Coronation Street, Bill Podmore
. Ernest is shot and killed in a botched robbery in January 1978, which leaves Emily devastated. Just as in years past, Emily only starts to heal from heartbreak by playing with a baby, (Deirdre's
(Anne Kirkbride
) infant daughter Tracy
(Christabel Finch)).
To occupy her time, Emily becomes manageress of a café, with Gail Potter (Helen Worth
) as her assistant. In 1980, when owners Jim and Alma Sedgewick
(Amanda Barrie
) make drastic changes to the food and service, Emily walks out, with Alma replacing her as manageress. In many respects, Emily has never let Ernest go, but does marry again, to Arnold Swain (George Waring). He unfortunately turns out to be a bigamist. After she ends their relationship, he shows up at her home and plans a murder-suicide. Emily tells him God would not approve of what he is doing. Arnold insists that she is wrong and goes upstairs to find a Bible. While he is gone, Emily runs outside for help. Arnold is sent to an institution where he dies ten months later. When factory boss Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
) needs a new wages clerk, it is to Emily he turns, and so, in May 1982, Emily starts working in the same job held by her husband at the time of his death.
In 1992, Emily has a mental breakdown. She can't remember appointments, becomes confused and her appearance suffers. Lodger Percy Sugden
(Bill Waddington
), protects her good name, covering up for these very unusual actions. He becomes increasingly concerned about her behaviour and alerts Emily's friends and neighbours. One day, Emily disappears from home without a word. When friends and neighbours ignore Percy's call for assistance, he raises the alarm and goes to the police who find Emily wandering aimlessly, clearly having suffered a medical depressive breakdown. When Emily has recovered enough to come home from hospital, she tells Percy that he is a good friend, and thanks him for all he had done. Percy leaves No.3 in 1997 and moved into Mayfield Court—sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
In recent years, Emily has kept her moral resolve and is the Street's only churchgoer until young Sophie Webster
(Brooke Vincent
). She falls in love once more, in 1994, with Bernard, a vicar. He breaks off the engagement when he finds out she had suffered a mental breakdown. Due to his past, he cannot not face the possibility of it recurring. Since then, Emily has sworn off love completely, pushing herself into more topical endeavours instead. In 1998, when her nephew Spider (Martin Hancock
) arrives on the scene, Emily takes him in and they become fast friends as well as partners in saving the Red Rec from Alf Roberts
' (Bryan Mosley
) proposed plans for a "Millennium Bowl". Emily spends a night up in a tree standing by her convictions that the Red Rec is the last green space in Weatherfield and it deserves preservation.
In January 2003, Richard Hillman
(Brian Capron
), husband of Gail Platt, attempts to murder Emily for monetary reasons. He breaks in while she is watching television while babysitting for Ashley
(Steven Arnold
) and Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw
). Richard knocks her unconscious with a crowbar but is interrupted by Maxine's early return. He attacks her with the same weapon, killing her instantly. Emily makes a full recovery but suffers terrible guilt for surviving when Maxine didn't. In January 2004, she prevents a murder when grief-crazed Brenda Fearns (Julia Deakin
) almost jumps off a forty-three foot church tower with youngster Bethany Platt (Amy & Emily Walton).
In early 2006, Emily befriends Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
), a new member of the congregation at her church. He soon becomes a regular visitor to her house, doing odd jobs and the like, and they remain friends after he confesses that he has recently been released from prison. However, Emily is devastated when Ed admits why he has been in prison—he was the man who shot and killed Ernest in 1978. He tells her that, after finding God while in prison, he has come looking for her, attempting to atone for his misdemeanours. Enraged, Emily throws him out, and goes on to question her faith. Eventually, on 10 March 2006, Emily forgives Ed as he contemplates suicide.
On 22 August 2008, Norris (Malcolm Hebden
) finds an envelope in Emily's drawer while looking to see what her PIN was when she has forgotten it, it reads; "to be opened after my death". Norris tells Rita Sullivan
(Barbara Knox
) about it and she tells Emily about the situation so Emily agrees to tell Norris. She makes him promise not to tell anyone but it turns out to be plans for her funeral. Norris discovers that this envelope isn't the one he has seen and tries hard to find out what really is in the envelope. It is revealed to be old photos of Rita from her singing days.
In November 2008, Emily encounters Jed Stone
(Kenneth Cope
), a former resident of Coronation Street, when she is working at the canteen at Weatherfield General Hospital. She is amazed as it has been 40 years since she had last seen him. Taking pity on him as he has no home to go to, Emily invites him to come and lodge with her and Norris at Number 3. When Jed goes missing in December of that year Emily is very worried as he has left his cap behind. When Maria Connor (Samia Smith
) returns from holiday she is surprised to learn that Jed has disappeared as they both had believed Tony Gordon
(Gray O'Brien
) was a killer. After Maria accuses Tony of killing Jed both Maria and Emily are relieved when Jed turns up "unharmed" but Jed is really hiding marks on his neck from when Tony had strangled him. Emily is later upset to hear that Jed has suffered a second heart attack after he receives a visit from Tony's henchman.
In early 2009, Emily's storylines include her lodger Norris' girlfriend Mary Taylor
(Pattie Clare
) calling around and cooking them international meals and parking her caravan outside their house, much to the annoyance of their neighbours. Later the same year, Norris's half-brother Ramsay Clegg (Andrew Sachs
) arrives after their not seeing each other for 40 years. Emily tries to get Norris to forgive Ramsay before his return to Australia, and in doing so begins to fall for the man. She is very upset when he departs the Street in August 2009, and is later shocked when he dies suddenly on his flight. She condemns Norris for treating Ramsay in the cold manner that he did. Emily later forgives Norris for his treatment of Ramsay. In late 2009, Emily attends Sophie Webster's baptism and subsequently becomes quite close with the girl.
Emily discovers a letter dating back from the 1960s to Ken Barlow (who at the time lived at number 3). It turns out to be from his ex-lover Susan, it also revealed that she had a child 9 months after he left her which turns out to be Ken's estranged son Lawrence Cunningham.
The character of Emily was introduced when actress Eileen Derbyshire took on the role for Episode 15 on Friday, 27 January. At first, the character was simply called "Miss Nugent"; it wasn't until 1962 that she was given the name "Emily" by the show's writers. She continued to be credited on the programme as "Miss Nugent" until 1969.
Although rarely seen, the set of Emily's kitchen is the oldest surviving set. (The second oldest set is Ken's kitchen, with the famous avocado-green tiles.) All other sets have been redecorated at least once since we first saw Emily's kitchen. Emily's back room/parlour, however, was redecorated off screen. In the story a fire was caused by a candle left unattended by Spider and Toyah when they made their way upstairs after a romantic evening. Spider was able to track down matching wallpaper to cover up the fire damage so that Emily would not know what had happened, but in reality, the wallpaper was no longer obtainable, so the whole set was re-decorated in a very similar style. Emily has lived at No. 3 Coronation Street since 1972.
was approached by Granada to play a part in the show, but the actress was tied up in a Christmas stage play. Of this Derbyshire said: "Four weeks after it started (airing) they said I could either wait until they introduced a new family into the programme or take the tiny part of a little, shy woman helper at the Mission Hall" going on to say "I have always been a fatalist, so I took the bird in one hand, not realising what a momentous decision I was making".
In January 2009, a Coronation Street spokesperson denied claims that the character of Emily, along with other established actresses who portray characters Rita Sullivan
and Betty Williams
were axed by producer Kim Crowther in a bid to save money on salaries.
Over the years, the character has proved her good neighbour image by taking in a number of lodgers, most notably Percy Sugden, Curly Watts, her nephew Spider, and current lodger Norris Cole
.
compiled a list of ten favourite Christmas moments from soap; on the list was the 2002 Christmas episode where Richard Hillman came close to suffocating Emily with a pillow as she slept.
Discussing the scene where Emily was attacked by Richard Hillman in 2003, critic Chris Diamond wryly commented: "Surely Emily wouldn't be in the line of fire? Poor, drippy, sensible shoes Emily? But she was and the scene where Richard laid the blow on her was one of the most genuinely shocking things I have ever seen on television. I just couldn't believe my eyes. And that was where the genius of the episode lay. I knew Emily was going to get it. I saw Richard creeping up behind her and I was fully cognoscent of the fact that the crowbar in his hand was not for snagging her cardie. But I was sure that even at this point something was going to happen that would divert Richard from his target. When the blow actually fell I was utterly amazed."
Dek Hogan writing for media website Digital Spy in 2005 praised Eileen Derbyshire's comedic abilities; "the book club storyline doesn't exactly fill me with joy but does have the advantage of giving some fine comedic material to the underused talents of Eileen Derbyshire. As Emily Bishop she has shown a major flair for these scenes in the past." In 2006, writer Eve-Marie Wilson in an article criticised the plot which saw Emily forgiving her husband's killer: "...on Coronation Street recently, Emily Bishop was having a crisis of conscience, could she or couldn’t she forgive Ed, the man who had killed her husband all those years ago. After two or three episodes the matter was resolved. Had that incident occurred on a soap opera she’d still be undecided six months later!"
In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture
commented that Emily is underused in storylines, but praised her stating: "Emily is one of those characters who seems to have always been around but rarely gets singled out for attention, yet she can be both funny and heartbreaking. She’s really stood out in her scenes this month and has been the only good thing about the Norris/Ramsay storyline of infinite tedium." In the book "Women and soap opera: a study of prime time soaps", Christine Geraghty describes Emily as being "shy, frightened of speaking out until roused, a spinster type whose complex marital history is seldom referred to".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the UK television ITV
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
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, 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...
. Portrayed by actress Eileen Derbyshire
Eileen Derbyshire
Eileen Derbyshire, MBE is an English actress, best known for her role as Emily Bishop on the soap opera Coronation Street. She has played the character since 1961, making her the longest-serving female cast member in a British soap opera...
, the character is the longest-standing female character in the series after first appearing onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1961.
Storylines
In 1964, Emily is set to marry Leonard SwindleyLeonard Swindley
Leonard Swindley was a fictional character on the British television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was played by actor Arthur Lowe between 1960 and 1965...
(Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
), her boss at Gamma Garments, but jilts him at the altar. A very moral woman, Emily prides herself on saving herself for marriage, but her resolve is eventually weakened and she has sex with her Hungarian revolutionary boyfriend Miklos Zadic (Paul Stassino) in 1968. She later confides in her friend Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid
Anne Reid
Anne Reid, MBE is a BAFTA Award-nominated English film and television actress from Newcastle upon Tyne, best known for her roles as Valerie Tatlock in Coronation Street and Jean in dinnerladies....
) that she has no regrets about the encounter; Emily is, by that time, 39 years old and assumes it will be now or never.
In 1969, with Miklos out of the picture, Emily falls in love with mild-mannered Ernest Bishop (Stephen Hancock
Stephen Hancock
Stephen Hancock is a British TV actor. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avonin 1929. He is most notable for his role as Ernest Bishop in Coronation Street which he played from 1969 until the character was killed off in 1978...
) after meeting him at his mother's funeral. Their courtship is tested many times over and lasts for three years. In August 1971, they are engaged. The next year, Ernest is jailed in Majorca and subsequently freed, and it is at this time that they get married, broadcast across the UK on Easter Monday
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
.
Despite rough patches, Emily and Ernest's marriage is relatively stable and they love each other very much. Emily miscarries in 1972 and starts the menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
in 1974, dashing their chances of having a child of their own. This leads to many arguments between them, and they are forced to re-evaluate their marriage after just two years. They turn to short-term fostering to assuage Emily's need to connect with young children.
Ernest—portrayed by actor Stephen Hancock—was killed off when Hancock clashed with the management in Granada Television and the then-producer of Coronation Street, Bill Podmore
Bill Podmore
Edgar William "Bill" Podmore was a British television producer. Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, he was best known for his long association with the soap opera Coronation Street, a series he produced for twelve years...
. Ernest is shot and killed in a botched robbery in January 1978, which leaves Emily devastated. Just as in years past, Emily only starts to heal from heartbreak by playing with a baby, (Deirdre's
Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Anne Barlow is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV Granada soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Anne Kirkbride
Anne Kirkbride
Anne Kirkbride is an English actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street which she has played for thirty-nine years.-Coronation Street:...
) infant daughter Tracy
Tracy Barlow
Tracy Lynette Barlow is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed, since 2002, by Kate Ford, the latest in a series of actresses who have played Tracy at various ages...
(Christabel Finch)).
To occupy her time, Emily becomes manageress of a café, with Gail Potter (Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) as her assistant. In 1980, when owners Jim and Alma Sedgewick
Alma Halliwell
Alma Marie Halliwell , played by Amanda Barrie, is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Alma was featured as a recurring character from 1981–1982; however, she was reintroduced as a regular in 1988...
(Amanda Barrie
Amanda Barrie
Amanda Barrie is an English actress.-Career:Born as Shirley Anne Broadbent, Barrie attended St Anne's College, St Anne's on Sea. She then trained at the Arts Educational School in London and later at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School...
) make drastic changes to the food and service, Emily walks out, with Alma replacing her as manageress. In many respects, Emily has never let Ernest go, but does marry again, to Arnold Swain (George Waring). He unfortunately turns out to be a bigamist. After she ends their relationship, he shows up at her home and plans a murder-suicide. Emily tells him God would not approve of what he is doing. Arnold insists that she is wrong and goes upstairs to find a Bible. While he is gone, Emily runs outside for help. Arnold is sent to an institution where he dies ten months later. When factory boss Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (actor)
Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006...
) needs a new wages clerk, it is to Emily he turns, and so, in May 1982, Emily starts working in the same job held by her husband at the time of his death.
In 1992, Emily has a mental breakdown. She can't remember appointments, becomes confused and her appearance suffers. Lodger Percy Sugden
Percy Sugden
Percy Sugden is a fictional character in the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Bill Waddington. He appeared between 1983 and 1997.-Creation:...
(Bill Waddington
Bill Waddington
Bill Waddington , was an English music hall performer and comedian who was born in Oldham, Lancashire. In later life he achieved stardom as the pompous ex serviceman Percy Sugden in Granada Television's long running soap opera, Coronation Street.Waddington was born at Oldham on June 10, 1916, the...
), protects her good name, covering up for these very unusual actions. He becomes increasingly concerned about her behaviour and alerts Emily's friends and neighbours. One day, Emily disappears from home without a word. When friends and neighbours ignore Percy's call for assistance, he raises the alarm and goes to the police who find Emily wandering aimlessly, clearly having suffered a medical depressive breakdown. When Emily has recovered enough to come home from hospital, she tells Percy that he is a good friend, and thanks him for all he had done. Percy leaves No.3 in 1997 and moved into Mayfield Court—sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
In recent years, Emily has kept her moral resolve and is the Street's only churchgoer until young Sophie Webster
Sophie Webster
Sophie Lauren Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed by actress Brooke Vincent, after previously being portrayed by both Ashleigh Middleton and Emma Woodward. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode...
(Brooke Vincent
Brooke Vincent
Brooke Levi Vincent is an actress in the British soap opera Coronation Street. She joined the soap in 2004, taking over from Emma Woodward in the role of Sophie Webster.- Career :...
). She falls in love once more, in 1994, with Bernard, a vicar. He breaks off the engagement when he finds out she had suffered a mental breakdown. Due to his past, he cannot not face the possibility of it recurring. Since then, Emily has sworn off love completely, pushing herself into more topical endeavours instead. In 1998, when her nephew Spider (Martin Hancock
Martin Hancock
Martin Hancock is an English actor well known for his role as Emily Bishop's nephew Geoffrey "Spider" Nugent in the British soap Coronation Street and Reg Lund in Holby City....
) arrives on the scene, Emily takes him in and they become fast friends as well as partners in saving the Red Rec from Alf Roberts
Alf Roberts
Alfred Sidney "Alf" Roberts was a fictional character in the British ITV soap Coronation Street. He ran a grocery shop at No. 15 and was heavily involved in local politics, including two spells as mayor of Weatherfield...
' (Bryan Mosley
Bryan Mosley
Bryan Mosley OBE was a British actor, known best as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.- Early life :...
) proposed plans for a "Millennium Bowl". Emily spends a night up in a tree standing by her convictions that the Red Rec is the last green space in Weatherfield and it deserves preservation.
In January 2003, Richard Hillman
Richard Hillman
Richard Charles Hillman was a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Brian Capron. Hillman is now rated as one of the best soap villains of all time.-Development:...
(Brian Capron
Brian Capron
Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . His father was an Algerian pilot, of French descent, who died in a plane crash before Brian was born....
), husband of Gail Platt, attempts to murder Emily for monetary reasons. He breaks in while she is watching television while babysitting for Ashley
Ashley Peacock
Ashley Sibelius Peacock is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Steven Arnold, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 1 February 1995.On 23 April 2010, it was announced that the character had been axed along...
(Steven Arnold
Steven Arnold
Steven Arnold is an English actor best known for his role as Ashley Peacock in the long running hit show Coronation Street.- Early life :...
) and Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw
Tracy Shaw
Tracy Shaw is a British actress and singer.She is best known for her role as hairdresser Maxine Peacock in British soap opera Coronation Street during the 1990s and early 2000s.-Career:...
). Richard knocks her unconscious with a crowbar but is interrupted by Maxine's early return. He attacks her with the same weapon, killing her instantly. Emily makes a full recovery but suffers terrible guilt for surviving when Maxine didn't. In January 2004, she prevents a murder when grief-crazed Brenda Fearns (Julia Deakin
Julia Deakin
-Work:On television, Deakin played Stella Tulley in Side by Side and Marsha, the ageing but lovely divorcée landlady, in the British sitcom Spaced ....
) almost jumps off a forty-three foot church tower with youngster Bethany Platt (Amy & Emily Walton).
In early 2006, Emily befriends Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
Chris Walker (actor)
Chris Walker is an English actor most notable for playing Rob Hollins, in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors.He won the award of Best On-screen partnership at The British Soap Awards 2010, for his role as Rob Hollins, with Actress, Jan Pearson who plays Karen Hollins.-Career:Always wanting to be...
), a new member of the congregation at her church. He soon becomes a regular visitor to her house, doing odd jobs and the like, and they remain friends after he confesses that he has recently been released from prison. However, Emily is devastated when Ed admits why he has been in prison—he was the man who shot and killed Ernest in 1978. He tells her that, after finding God while in prison, he has come looking for her, attempting to atone for his misdemeanours. Enraged, Emily throws him out, and goes on to question her faith. Eventually, on 10 March 2006, Emily forgives Ed as he contemplates suicide.
On 22 August 2008, Norris (Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden is an English television and stage actor best known for his role as Norris Cole in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) finds an envelope in Emily's drawer while looking to see what her PIN was when she has forgotten it, it reads; "to be opened after my death". Norris tells Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan is a long-standing character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox, MBE , is an English actress, best known for playing Rita Sullivan in the television soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:Knox was born in Oldham, Lancashire...
) about it and she tells Emily about the situation so Emily agrees to tell Norris. She makes him promise not to tell anyone but it turns out to be plans for her funeral. Norris discovers that this envelope isn't the one he has seen and tries hard to find out what really is in the envelope. It is revealed to be old photos of Rita from her singing days.
In November 2008, Emily encounters Jed Stone
Jed Stone
John Edward "Jed" Stone, played by Kenneth Cope, is a fictional character from the soap opera Coronation Street. He was a lodger of Minnie Caldwell's in the 1960s, and her nickname for him was "Sunny Jim"...
(Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
), a former resident of Coronation Street, when she is working at the canteen at Weatherfield General Hospital. She is amazed as it has been 40 years since she had last seen him. Taking pity on him as he has no home to go to, Emily invites him to come and lodge with her and Norris at Number 3. When Jed goes missing in December of that year Emily is very worried as he has left his cap behind. When Maria Connor (Samia Smith
Samia Smith
Samia Maxine Ghadie , is an English actress best known for playing Maria Connor in the ITV Soap Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) returns from holiday she is surprised to learn that Jed has disappeared as they both had believed Tony Gordon
Tony Gordon
Anthony "Tony" Gordon was a fictional character in the itv soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actor Gray O'Brien. The character first appeared on screen on 16 September 2007 and making his final appearance on 9 June 2010 after deciding to sacrifice himself in the Underworld fire. He is a...
(Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular British soap opera Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010, and as Dr Richard McCaig on Casualty from 1996 to 1998.O'Brien was born in Stewarton,...
) was a killer. After Maria accuses Tony of killing Jed both Maria and Emily are relieved when Jed turns up "unharmed" but Jed is really hiding marks on his neck from when Tony had strangled him. Emily is later upset to hear that Jed has suffered a second heart attack after he receives a visit from Tony's henchman.
In early 2009, Emily's storylines include her lodger Norris' girlfriend Mary Taylor
Mary Taylor (Coronation Street)
Mary Taylor , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. played by Pattie Clare, made her first onscreen appearance on 26 November 2008 and departed on 15 May 2009 but returned in March 2010 and has appeared on the show ever since...
(Pattie Clare
Pattie Clare
Patti Clare is an English actress, best known for playing the part of Mary Taylor in ITV drama Coronation Street from 2008. Previous roles included an appearance in Doctor Who and in a spinoff episode of Torchwood.-External links:...
) calling around and cooking them international meals and parking her caravan outside their house, much to the annoyance of their neighbours. Later the same year, Norris's half-brother Ramsay Clegg (Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...
) arrives after their not seeing each other for 40 years. Emily tries to get Norris to forgive Ramsay before his return to Australia, and in doing so begins to fall for the man. She is very upset when he departs the Street in August 2009, and is later shocked when he dies suddenly on his flight. She condemns Norris for treating Ramsay in the cold manner that he did. Emily later forgives Norris for his treatment of Ramsay. In late 2009, Emily attends Sophie Webster's baptism and subsequently becomes quite close with the girl.
Emily discovers a letter dating back from the 1960s to Ken Barlow (who at the time lived at number 3). It turns out to be from his ex-lover Susan, it also revealed that she had a child 9 months after he left her which turns out to be Ken's estranged son Lawrence Cunningham.
Background
Although rarely seen, the set of Emily's kitchen is the oldest surviving set. (The second oldest set is Ken's kitchen, with the famous avocado-green tiles.) All other sets have been redecorated at least once since we first saw Emily's kitchen. Emily's back room/parlour, however, was redecorated off screen. In the story a fire was caused by a candle left unattended by Spider and Toyah when they made their way upstairs after a romantic evening. Spider was able to track down matching wallpaper to cover up the fire damage so that Emily would not know what had happened, but in reality, the wallpaper was no longer obtainable, so the whole set was re-decorated in a very similar style. Emily has lived at No. 3 Coronation Street since 1972.
Casting
In December 1960, actress Eileen DerbyshireEileen Derbyshire
Eileen Derbyshire, MBE is an English actress, best known for her role as Emily Bishop on the soap opera Coronation Street. She has played the character since 1961, making her the longest-serving female cast member in a British soap opera...
was approached by Granada to play a part in the show, but the actress was tied up in a Christmas stage play. Of this Derbyshire said: "Four weeks after it started (airing) they said I could either wait until they introduced a new family into the programme or take the tiny part of a little, shy woman helper at the Mission Hall" going on to say "I have always been a fatalist, so I took the bird in one hand, not realising what a momentous decision I was making".
In January 2009, a Coronation Street spokesperson denied claims that the character of Emily, along with other established actresses who portray characters Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan is a long-standing character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
and Betty Williams
Betty Williams (Coronation Street)
Elizabeth "Betty" Williams is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by former music hall star Betty Driver. Driver was cast as Betty in 1969, after first auditioning for the role of Hilda Ogden...
were axed by producer Kim Crowther in a bid to save money on salaries.
Development
During an interview in 1991, Derbyshire spoke about her character's thirty years in the show, stating: "The writers have a tough enough task as it is, trying to find new storylines for a character who has been in the serial for three decades." Going on to say "I just get on with it. Emily has had a more colourful past than you might think. She has had lots of men friends and liaisons. In the early days, when they were stuck for something to do with her, I think the writers used to say 'Let's give Emily another boyfriend.' I've lost count of the number of men friends she has had".Over the years, the character has proved her good neighbour image by taking in a number of lodgers, most notably Percy Sugden, Curly Watts, her nephew Spider, and current lodger Norris Cole
Norris Cole
Norris Benjamin Cole is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Malcolm Hebden, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 11 March 1994 and remained until his departure on 14 April 1997, only to return on 1 December...
.
Reception
In 2001, a storyline involving Emily lending her nephew Spider £15,000 for a new business venture was criticised for not being authentic. Journalist Tony Bridgland writing for the Telegraph said of the plot; "It is beginning to look as though Coronation Streets researchers failed to do enough homework to make their plot watertight." The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
compiled a list of ten favourite Christmas moments from soap; on the list was the 2002 Christmas episode where Richard Hillman came close to suffocating Emily with a pillow as she slept.
Discussing the scene where Emily was attacked by Richard Hillman in 2003, critic Chris Diamond wryly commented: "Surely Emily wouldn't be in the line of fire? Poor, drippy, sensible shoes Emily? But she was and the scene where Richard laid the blow on her was one of the most genuinely shocking things I have ever seen on television. I just couldn't believe my eyes. And that was where the genius of the episode lay. I knew Emily was going to get it. I saw Richard creeping up behind her and I was fully cognoscent of the fact that the crowbar in his hand was not for snagging her cardie. But I was sure that even at this point something was going to happen that would divert Richard from his target. When the blow actually fell I was utterly amazed."
Dek Hogan writing for media website Digital Spy in 2005 praised Eileen Derbyshire's comedic abilities; "the book club storyline doesn't exactly fill me with joy but does have the advantage of giving some fine comedic material to the underused talents of Eileen Derbyshire. As Emily Bishop she has shown a major flair for these scenes in the past." In 2006, writer Eve-Marie Wilson in an article criticised the plot which saw Emily forgiving her husband's killer: "...on Coronation Street recently, Emily Bishop was having a crisis of conscience, could she or couldn’t she forgive Ed, the man who had killed her husband all those years ago. After two or three episodes the matter was resolved. Had that incident occurred on a soap opera she’d still be undecided six months later!"
In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture
Lowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
commented that Emily is underused in storylines, but praised her stating: "Emily is one of those characters who seems to have always been around but rarely gets singled out for attention, yet she can be both funny and heartbreaking. She’s really stood out in her scenes this month and has been the only good thing about the Norris/Ramsay storyline of infinite tedium." In the book "Women and soap opera: a study of prime time soaps", Christine Geraghty describes Emily as being "shy, frightened of speaking out until roused, a spinster type whose complex marital history is seldom referred to".
Video and DVD references
- Coronation Street: The Early Days. Video. Granada Media Group, 2001.