Kevin Webster
Encyclopedia
Kevin John Webster is a long-standing fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actor
Michael Le Vell
, the character first appeared onscreen on 19 October 1983. Since his first appearance, the character has been in storylines ranging from criminal convictions, child death, a failing business and affairs.
(Peter Armitage
) and Alison Webster. Kevin's mother died of cancer when he was just 15 years old and this experience traumatised him badly. He first appears in 1983, as an apprentice mechanic working for Brian Tilsley (Chris Quinten). His father Bill and his younger sister, Debbie (Sue Devaney
), later join him. Initially his life consists of working by day and drinking with friends Terry Duckworth
(Nigel Pivaro
) and Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy
) in the evening. He dates Mandie Whitworth, a friend of Terry's girlfriend and Michelle Robinson and meets his long term love interest, Sally Seddon
(Sally Dynevor), in 1986 and they later marry. The Websters buy Number 13 from Hilda Ogden
(Jean Alexander
) after she leaves to work as a doctor's housekeeper.
(Helen Flanagan
) and Sophie
(Brooke Vincent
).
While Sally is away nursing her sick mother, Kevin has an affair with Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
) mother of his business partner. Natalie has no compunction about seducing a married man. Sally angrily confronts Natalie when she learns of the affair. Kevin and Sally divorce, due to the affair, and Kevin moves in with Natalie. However, he is unhappy and ends the relationship to return to Sally.
Sally and Kevin reconcile, partly for the girls' sake. However, Sally is seduced by Greg Kelly (Stephen Billington
). Kevin throws her out when he learns of the affair. Greg uses Sally's money (inherited from her mother) and abuses her. The affair ends but Kevin refuses to take her back, marrying Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe
) instead. The night before the wedding, Kevin and Sally sleep together for old times' sake. This secret assignation comes out, on the day Sally is to marry Danny Hargreaves (Richard Standing
). Danny calls their wedding off, angry that she had cheated on him and then lied about it.
Kevin's marriage to Alison is fraught. It is learned she had a traumatic childhood after her sibling drowned and Alison is suspected of intentionally killing her. When Alison is late returning Rosie and Sophie after an outing, Sally and Kevin, perhaps believing Alison really did murder her sibling, fear that Alison might have harmed them. Alison and the girls soon return - Alison had actually taken the girls to a photographer for portraits as a gift to Kevin. Alison is traumatised when she learns Kevin and Sally feared she might have harmed the girls. Alison later commits suicide after the death of her newborn son.
Kevin asks Sally to marry him again and she agrees, for the sake of their daughters. Sally has another affair with new boss, Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
), in 2005. Kevin overlooks it, pretending to believe Sally's denial. In 2009, Kevin develops an attraction to Molly Dobbs
(Vicky Binns
), wife of his business partner and friend Tyrone Dobbs
(Alan Halsall
) and has an affair with her lasting until Christmas 2009.
in 1983, moving in with Hilda Ogden as her lodger. He gets a job as a mechanic at Brian Tilsley's garage. His father, Bill, and sister, Debbie, soon follow. Kevin stays in Weatherfield with Hilda after Bill remarries and he and Debbie move down to Southampton in January 1985. Kevin builds up a mother-son relationship with Hilda.
After accidentally splashing her whilst driving by in his lorry, Kevin begins dating Sally Seddon. Their romance is often strained, due to Hilda's interference, as she feels that Kevin is too good for Sally and Sally is loyal to her family, who treat her badly. Kevin proposes repeatedly but it isn't until risks his life and breaks the window of the Rovers Return Inn
to drag Bet Lynch
(Julie Goodyear
) to safety during a fire in 1986 that Sally finally accepts. They finally marry later that year.
The following year, Hilda leaves Weatherfield, selling the house to Kevin and Sally, and Kevin continues working at the garage after his boss Brian is murdered. After much persuasion from Sally, he eventually buys it in 1996 and goes into partnership with Tony Horrocks (Lee Warburton
). Kevin and Sally have two daughters: Rosie (born in the back of Don Brennan's (Geoffrey Hinsliff
) taxi in December 1990) and Sophie (originally named Lauren; born in November 1994).
However their happiness doesn't last as in 1997, while Sally and the girls visit Sally's mother, Kevin begins an affair with Natalie Horrocks, mother of his business partner, Tony. Originally, their affair is no-strings attached but Natalie falls for Kevin and wants him to herself. As a result, she becomes careless in covering up the affair. Sally eventually discovers Kevin's infidelity but forgives him; however, they separate permanently after Sally has an affair with her boss, Greg Kelly. They divorce in 1999 and Sally has to fight Kevin for custody of their daughters after she leaves them with him while searching for somewhere else to live. Kevin discovers that Greg has hit Sally in front of the girls but she is still awarded custody.
), Roy
(David Neilson
) and Hayley Cropper
(Julie Hesmondhalgh
), Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie
) and Ashley Peacock
(Steven Arnold
) present. Their happiness is not to last, however, when their son Jake dies just one day after his birth in June 2000 from a Group B streptococcal infection. Their tragedy is too much for Alison to bear and after kidnapping Sarah-Louise Platt
's (Tina O'Brien
) newborn baby Bethany (Emily and Amy Walton) she commits suicide by stepping in front of a lorry, leaving Kevin devastated.
In the following months, Kevin had a brief romance with Molly Hardcastle (Jacqueline Kingston), a nurse introduced to him by his friend Martin Platt
(Sean Wilson) whom he had helps reconsider committing suicide when it transpired that she was seriously in debt, but by 2001 he breaks up with her as he realises that he has never stopped loving Sally. He then disrupts Sally's wedding to Danny Hargreaves by informing him that on the eve of his wedding to Alison he had slept with Sally. Danny is disgusted with his fiancé and jilts her at the altar, leaving Sally humiliated and devastated.
As 2002 approaches Kevin is determined to win Sally back and eventually convinces her to remarry him, although she warns him that it is only for their daughters' sakes and their relationship would not be sexual. However, during their engagement Sally has a brief fling with Alex, a painter and decorator, which is revealed on their wedding day. Sally is then faced with the choice of spending the rest of her life with either Kevin and Alex but she chooses Kevin, who has already forgiven her for her fling with Alex, and they remarry on 9 December 2002.
During the following years Kevin continues working hard with his garage business and becomes a brotherly figure to his employee Tyrone Dobbs. He also becomes good friends with his employee Tommy Harris (Thomas Craig
), with whom he helps save Gail Hillman
(Helen Worth
) and her children Sarah-Louise and David
(Jack P Shepherd) when her husband Richard Hillman
(Brian Capron
) attempts to kill them all in the Weatherfield canal in March 2003. Kevin is distraught when he discovers Tommy's body in the garage in March 2005 after he has been murdered by his daughter Katy (Lucy-Jo Hudson
).
That same year sees Sally become a pushy parent, much to Kevin and Rosie's distress. She enrols Rosie into the prestigious Oakhill School after Rosie shows good potential at Maths and forces Kevin to work extra hours at the garage so that they can afford to keep Rosie there. Sally also takes on a job as secretary to car dealer Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
, whose daughter Gemma has become friends with Rosie as they both attend Oakhill. Sally and Ian begin an affair later on in 2005, which is discovered by Rosie when she walks in on them, and when Kevin finds out the truth he is devastated and decides to end his marriage. However, Rosie persuades him to rethink his decision, convincing him that Sally does love him and is only having the affair so that she can pay her tuition fees.
In 2007 Kevin begins to think that Sally is playing away again, this time with teacher John Stape
(Graeme Hawley
). This transpires as John is tutoring Sally, who wants to sit A-level English. John's girlfriend Fiz Brown
(Jennie McAlpine
) also thinks that John and Sally are having an affair but when she confronts Sally on Christmas Day 2007 both the Websters and Fiz are stunned when it is revealed that John is in fact having an affair with Rosie. Kevin severely beats John and is subsequently arrested for assault, being sentenced to 28 days imprisonment. However, he only serves 14 days for good behaviour.
Kevin begins feuding with businessman Tony Gordon
(Gray O'Brien
) during July 2008, who manipulates Rosie into trying to get Kevin to sell the garage to him. Kevin then sends Tony away and tells him that the garage is not for sale. Tony later invests in Kevin again, this time with Jimmy Dockerson (Robert Beck
), Kevin responds angrily but forgets about Jimmy until he realises he is losing clients. He confronts the specific garage mechanic alone with Jimmy before confronting Tony concerning the situation, although Sally and Rosie deny Kevin's proof. Kevin later discovers that his tow truck has been stolen whilst helping a woman fix her car on a call-out. Although he has no proof, he knows that Tony is responsible for the theft. Later that year he discovers that that Rosie has been supplying Tony with business documents from the garage. He is both furious and disappointed that she has betrayed him in such a manner even though she was under the impression that she was actually helping him with his ailing business. He gives half the business to Tyrone as an incentive to help him rebuild the business. As a result of his ploy to stop Tony from gaining control of it, Kevin is now a co-owner.
Rosie later disappears leaving Sally and Kevin distraught. They initially think that she has run off with Lottery winnings from the Underworld syndicate until Janice Battersby
(Vicky Entwistle
) confesses that she claimed the cash using Rosie's identity. Sally and Kevin receive a postcard from Rosie, which leads them to believe that she is in Holyhead
and Sally subsequently goes there searching for her to no avail. Kevin and Sally are reunited with Rosie on 5 November 2008, after it is revealed that John Stape had abducted her. Kevin threatens John but is restrained by a detective.
(Vicky Binns
), wife of his business partner and best friend Tyrone. Molly begins to take an interest in the business and starts sharing the book-keeping with Sally, meaning that she would be spending more time with Kevin. Eventually he breaks down and confesses to Molly in June 2009, saying that he is infatuated with her. This causes mixed reactions within Molly who slaps him across the face initially but later tells him that she is flattered by his statement. They begin to plot an affair together and after a series of mishaps their chance finally comes when Kevin sneaks away from Sally's birthday party in July 2009 and has sex with a waiting Molly on her sofa. Afterwards, Kevin feels guilty and decides to end their fling before it gets out of hand by persuading Tyrone to take Molly away on holiday. They resume their affair, however, in August 2009.
They soon confess their love for each other, and pledge to leave their respective spouses and start a new life together. However, Kevin keeps finding some excuse not to tell Sally, including Sophie (Brooke Vincent
)'s baptisms and her GCSEs. On Christmas Day 2009, Kevin convinces Molly that they should come clean about their affair that same day. However, when he sits Sally down, she has a confession of her own to make - she has breast cancer. Kevin tells Molly about Sally's breast cancer and makes it clear that that their affair is over as it is the least of his worries, and how he would support Sally through her illness. Molly then discovered that she was expecting his child, but as Kevin wanted nothing to do with her or the baby, Molly passed the baby off as her Tyrone's.
In August 2010 at Roy and Hayley's wedding, Claire Peacock
(Julia Haworth
) tells the Street that she caught Sophie and her best friend Sian Powers
(Sacha Parkinson
) kissing a few days previously, however, Kevin and Sally don't believe her. Sophie later confesses to her shocked father the truth that night, that she and Sian are in love. Kevin is very supportive of Sophie's sexuality, but Sophie still decides to run away with Sian, much to Kevin and Sally's devastation. They are later reunited with her after Rosie tracks her down to Sheffield and brings them home.
On 6 December 2010, Kevin witnesses a huge explosion which tears through 'The Joinery' Bar and is thrown to the ground by the force of the blast. A tram then derails off the viaduct and smashes into the front of the already damaged corner shop, crushing Molly, who is inside with baby Jack and her former boss Sunita Alahan
(Shobna Gulati
). He then attempts to free Molly along with Tyrone, but does not make much progress, he is then pulled back when the emergency services arrive. Sally sits with Molly to comfort her whilst she is dying and just before she dies, she confesses to Sally that Kevin is the father of baby Jack.
This leaves Sally devastated and after confronting Kevin, who admits the truth, she tells him to leave, which he does, returning to the hospital to see how Jack is doing. When Jack gets discharged from hospital, Tyrone goes to Kevin and Sally's house for help to look after him. However, Sally goes out, not being able to face Jack. Kevin then spots her in the cafe where he fails to convince her that he still loves her. Sally then says she wants him to leave for good. When he goes to The Rovers, he meets Bill and Pam. Pam expresses her grief at her loss of Molly and blames Kevin for her death and that she does not know how to break the news to Molly's father Diggory (Eric Potts
).
On 17 December 2010, Molly is laid to rest. At the funeral Tyrone breaks down while giving his eulogy to his deceased wife and Kevin goes to the pulpit to take over in order to help Tyrone. As Kevin reads Tyrone's tribute, Sally is disgusted and suddenly runs out of the church. Tyrone's suspicions are aroused when he sees Kevin and Sally arguing outside the church as the coffin is being brought out. At the graveside, Tyrone, already knowing that he is not Jack's father, pieces the clues together and realises that it is Kevin. He attacks Kevin by the graveside and punches him, causing him to fall into the grave on top of Molly's coffin. Later, Sally, Rosie and Sophie all order a shamed Kevin to leave the house, despite his pleas for forgiveness. Kevin spends the night in the garage and later goes to The Rovers for a drink where everybody watches him in disgust. Kevin leaves the pub and goes to his house. He hammers on the door and barges in when Sally answers and refuses to leave. Sally calls the police but Sophie begs her not to have him arrested. Sally agrees to let Kevin stay for one night on condition that he stay away from her.
The next day, Tyrone dumped baby Jack to Kevin, much to Sally and Rosie's disgust. Rosie moves out of the Webster's house. On Christmas Eve, Sally points out that watching Kevin with Jack makes her hate him even more and wants rid of them both. He tries to tell Tyrone to have baby Jack back, but he doesn't want anything to do with either of them again. Kevin moves out, but after a desperate plea from Sophie, Sally allows Kevin to stay for Christmas Day.
On New Year's Eve, Kevin accepts the fact that Jack is his baby with Molly and that he is not wanted in his family and moves out of Coronation Street, but returns a week later only to find Tyrone walking out of his house in the morning. That same night he confronts him, but Sally tells Kevin that whatever she does and who with is none of his business. The next day, Kevin's anger eventually boils over and he beats up Tyrone in the street, leaving him with a bloodied lip, and announces that he is filing for a divorce. He also calls an estate agent to value the house. Sally admits to Kevin that she lied to him because she wanted to hurt him. They agree to a truce but when Kevin suggests they have another go together as a family, Sally refuses point blank.
A bitter feud breaks out between Kevin and Sally during the following month and constantly argue. Kevin shows the house to a buyer, who is put off by Sally when she deliberately leaves the house in a mess. The buyer returns later, but is put off again by Sally and neighbour Eddie Windass
(Steve Huison
) who she invites round for dinner. The same week, Rosie tells Kevin that she wants to get to know Jack better and see him more, but actually needs him for a modelling audition. When she fails it, she brings the wrong baby home, much to Kevin's anger. Kevin collects Jack from the studio and demands that Rosie stay away from them. For the next few days, he ignores her; however, when Rosie's boss Alfie, Sally's new boyfriend Jeff Cullen) fires her, Kevin supports her and offers to punch Alfie.
Kevin and Sally's arguing has a negative effect on Sophie and she gets drunk and after confronting her pastor and believing that her life is falling apart, she falls off the church roof. Sally turns on Kevin, until Sian interrupts and explains that they are both equally to blame for Sophie's accident. Kevin and Sally accept this and Sally invites him to spend the evening with her after they come home from the hospital. Sally gets upset and accepts a hug from Kevin, but after getting the wrong impression, he tries to kiss her and she asks him to leave.
On the day that Kevin and Sally meet to finalise their divorce, Kevin wins £200,000 on a scratch card and keeps it secret. Tyrone, after hearing the news, goes to the solicitor's office and tells Sally just as she is about to sign the divorce papers. On hearing the news, Sally refuses to sign the papers, and demands half of Kevin's money, totalling £100,000. The following week, Sally receives a bouquet of flowers which she thinks are from Jeff, but are actually from Kevin. Kevin goes on to buy a new car for Sally. He is later disappointed to learn that Sally sold the car and declares it a windfall. A court official then approaches Kevin in The Rovers and reveals that Sally has got the lottery money frozen temporaily and that he has been summoned to court the following week. The court rules in favour of Kevin when Sally loses her temper when Kevin's lawyer brings up her affair with Ian Davenport. After being encouraged by Bill, however, Kevin gives all the money to Sally.
Sally decides to give half of Kevin's winnings back to him in order for him to be able to provide for Jack and they call a truce. When Jeff reveals he is taking Sally to Paris for a fortnight and gloats in front of Kevin, Sally apologises to Kevin for Jeff's attitude and they remember their wedding anniversary trip to Paris five years earlier. Kevin bids Sally farewell and they part on good terms.
In May 2011, Kevin and Tyrone's feuding at the garage takes a violent turn when Tyrone, in a fit of rage, damages a new hydrualic lift that Kevin had just bought. Kevin is crushed underneath a car he is working on when it gives way and is saved by Tyrone and Tommy Duckworth
(Chris Fountain
). When Tyrone confesses to causing the damage to the lift, Kevin forgives him and they call an awkward truce for the sake of their business in order for them to be able to work together.
Sally returns from Paris on the same day of the accident and offers Kevin the chance to stay at the house while he recovers from the crush (giving him a broken collarbone) and he agrees. One day in June
, he isn't happy when he walks into the house one day and sees Sophie and Sian giving as much money as they can to Ken Barlow
's grandson James Cunningham (James Roache
), when the soup kitchen is reportedly burgled. He bans the two from the kitchen and is left surprised when Sally (who disagrees with most things he says) backs him up. He is left angered when Sophie ignores the ban and takes on a role as one of the managers.
Eventually, he softens and supports the charity auction held at the bistro. The following day, Kevin gets the all-clear about his collarbone and then receives a shock when Sophie asks for a loan of £20,000 to help the charity gain the money they need for the house. Kevin refuses, saying £20,000 is too much.
The following day, Kevin still maintains his refusal on the loan and then talks to Peter and Leanne Barlow about it behind Sophie's back, causing her to take drastic measures and retrieve a letter from the bank (thrown by Kevin) about online banking from the bin and sends £20,000 over to the charity heads, hiding everything successfully and leaving Kevin oblivious. Meanwhile, Sally and Kevin's relationship is growing better and better by the day, as Sally doesn't ask Kevin to move back to the flat and they are no longer arguing.
The following day, Sophie and Sian are horrified to leave the charity never bid for the house and are ever more horrified to see the soup kitchen being demolished, with builders insisting it has been unoccupied for months. Failing to track the charity leaders Rob and Janet, Sophie and Sian realise that they've lost £20,000. Forced to confess, she tells Kevin, who flies into a rage and storms into the Barlow household, to confront James, who insists he knows nothing about the scam and is supported by each member of the Barlow family (except Tracy, who has suspicions). Making it clear he can't trust Sophie again, he is aggressive the following day and his aggression makes a great commentary track for Tyrone and Tommy. Eventually, Kevin calls the police, but during an interview, he lies and tells the police that he transferred the cash and ends his minor feud with Sally, though she does sternly warn him he needs to become a proper father to Sophie, like he used to be.
However, when Ken learns James was in on the scam, he feels terribly upset and tells everything to the Websters, angering Kevin.
In September, Kevin learns from Tyrone he has found a new love in Kirsty Soames, a police officer when he meets her at a bar. However, Tommy then confesses to Kevin he paid Kirsty to flirt with Tyrone. Kev is disgusted and demands Tommy reveal this to Tyrone, calling it cruel.
Towards the end of September, Kevin learns from Rosie that his sister Debbie has successfully brought a villa in Turkey and plans to take Jack there. However, he learns that if he wants to take Jack, he'll have to apply for parental responsibility to change his passport. He speaks to Ken about it, remembering that he adopted Tracy Barlow
(Kate Ford
). He learns some ideas about it, but Ken warns him that he'll have to talk with Tyrone about it. Later, Kevin and Tyrone are working, when Ty discovers a leaflet that Ken gave Kev and clocks on about what is going on. Fuming, he tells Kev to do what he wants.
The tension between Kev and Ty carries on until the next morning, when Bill and Pam turn up with news that they are engaged. However, Pam is appalled to learn that Kev is still at the house AND he is going to change Jack's surname. She tears into Sally about the former issue, which prompts Sal to finally ask Kevin to leave: he reluctantly agrees. The next day, at the garage, Bill and Pam hand out wedding invites. However, an argument erupts between Kevin and Pam when she bans Kevin from the wedding and he bans Pam from seeing Jack.
All the arguing puts stress on Bill, who collapses and suffers a heart attack. He is taken to hospital, where the arguing continues until Sal puts a stop to it. Later that evening, Sal tells Kev he can go tomorrow instead of said evening. They chat and suddenly embrace, kissing.
However, they break up the following day when Kev takes Sal for granted and tells Sophie they're back together. This pushes Sally back to ex-boyfriend Jeff and they resume their relationship, much to the disgust of Rosie and Sophie.
Over the coming weeks, Kevin accepts Sal has moved on and decides to stop trying to win her back. However, it is in the final full week of October, that Kev and Sal return to good terms. An example of this is when an ecstatic Sophie announces she and Sian are engaged. Kev refuses to give his permission (since Soph is only 16) outright and Sal agrees with him.
The following day, Kevin and Rosie's boyfriend Jason Grimshaw
are concerned when Rosie doesn't return from a flat viewing. After learning that the viewer's telephone number isn't real when they ask the estate agent, they race to the flat next to the Kabin. They bash the door down and discover Rosie tied up. Suddenly, Jason is attacked when a man throws a vase over him and Kevin realises by then that the man is John Stape, who kidnapped Rosie and coached her over the course of his actions (see John Stape
). Kevin races after him, but loses sight of him on the Street. As he tells a horrified Sally, John races past him in his car. Kevin races after him in the car he's working on at the garage. A car chase ensues and ends when John crashes his car into a truck trailer.
The next day, as Rosie gives her statement, she thanks her dad for rescuing her and Kevin becomes the hero of the Webster family. When John dies, Kevin is relieved at this news and once again has to stop Sally from making a fool out of herself around on the day of Fiz's sentencing, when she belittles Fiz's friends and family for supporting a murderer. He jumps to her defence in the Rovers when Julie Carp attacks Sally for her belittling comments on Fiz.
Later in the week, Sophie celebrates her 17th birthday. However, all is once again overshadowed by Rosie when Kevin reads an article in the Gazette which talks about her second kidnapping, as well as insensitive comments about Sally's cancer, Kevin's affair and raising of baby Jack and about Sophie being a lesbian. Kevin is left absolutely fuming, as is Sally. The pair then act in unison to throw Jeff out of the house when they learn he convinced Rosie to write the article and try to make what's left best of Sophie's party. They manage to pull it off successfully, with Kev supplying and pulling off a superb firework display. In personal terms, Kev and Sal are once again back on good terms, as Sally doesn't mind Kevin coming into the house and they are much kinder than they were.
.
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 actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell is an English character actor, who since 1983 has played the role of garage mechanic, Kevin Webster, in the soap opera Coronation Street....
, the character first appeared onscreen on 19 October 1983. Since his first appearance, the character has been in storylines ranging from criminal convictions, child death, a failing business and affairs.
Character creation
Background
Kevin is the son of BillBill Webster
William Geoffrey "Bill" Webster is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Peter Armitage, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 February 1984. He remained in the show until 1985 when Armitage decided to leave,...
(Peter Armitage
Peter Armitage
Peter Armitage is a statistician specialising in medical statistics.Peter Armitage attended Huddersfield College and went on to read mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge. Armitage belonged to the generation of mathematicians who came to maturity in the Second World War...
) and Alison Webster. Kevin's mother died of cancer when he was just 15 years old and this experience traumatised him badly. He first appears in 1983, as an apprentice mechanic working for Brian Tilsley (Chris Quinten). His father Bill and his younger sister, Debbie (Sue Devaney
Sue Devaney
Sue Devaney is an English actress. She has played various roles on British television including; Debbie Webster in Coronation Street, Rita Briggs in Jonny Briggs, Liz Harker in Casualty and Jane in dinnerladies...
), later join him. Initially his life consists of working by day and drinking with friends Terry Duckworth
Terry Duckworth
Terrence Edgar "Terry" Duckworth is a fictional character from the soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nigel Pivaro. He was introduced as the son of popular characters Jack and Vera Duckworth, making his on-screen debut on August 1, 1983. Terry has three sons: Paul, Tommy, and Brad...
(Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro is an English journalist who as an actor was best known for playing Terry Duckworth, the son of Vera and Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street.- Career :Pivaro was born in Manchester, England...
) and Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy
Kevin Kennedy (actor)
Kevin Kennedy is an English actor, writer, producer, singer, and guitarist, best known for playing the bottle-lensed Curly Watts in ITV's long running soap opera Coronation Street between 1983 and 2003.-Early life:Kennedy was born in Manchester. He attended St Paul's RC Secondary High School...
) in the evening. He dates Mandie Whitworth, a friend of Terry's girlfriend and Michelle Robinson and meets his long term love interest, Sally Seddon
Sally Webster
Sally Webster is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sally Dynevor, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986.-Casting:...
(Sally Dynevor), in 1986 and they later marry. The Websters buy Number 13 from Hilda Ogden
Hilda Ogden
Hilda Alice Ogden is a fictional character from the television series Coronation Street, one of the best-known of all the regular characters in the soap opera, whose name became synonymous with a certain type of working-class woman...
(Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander is a BAFTA Nominated English television actress. She is best known to British television viewers as Hilda Ogden on the soap opera Coronation Street, a role she played from 1964–1987 and also as Auntie Wainwright on the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1988 to 2010...
) after she leaves to work as a doctor's housekeeper.
Casting
Actor Michael Le Vell auditioned for the role and successfully landed the part after he had previously played another character called Neil Grimshaw, a newspaper delivery boy who worked at The Kabin.Character development
The characters of Kevin and Sally had a lack of storylines in their first years on the show but received a boost when Brian Park became executive producer. The Independent reports him as saying "Kevin and Sally Webster had years of washing their hands and eating baked beans on toast. Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor (then Whittaker) were then given great storylines, including his affair with Natalie, Sally's catfight with her when she found out and the subsequent divorce".Personality and identity
Kevin is very much a family man and looks out for them. ITV publicity say of the character: "A no-nonsense garage mechanic who likes an uncomplicated life and his tea on the table when he comes home from work.". In the book 'Life in The Street' by Graeme Kay, Kevin is described as a very cheerful yet cautious character.Relationships
Kevin spends his early years in the show with Sally Seddon. They marry and have two daughters, RosieRosie Webster
Rosie Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 24 December 1990. Originally portrayed by actress Emma Collinge from her birth until December 1999, the character has since been...
(Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan
Helen Joyce Flanagan is a British actress best known for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.Flanagan has played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street since 2000, when she was ten years old....
) and Sophie
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 :...
).
While Sally is away nursing her sick mother, Kevin has an affair with Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
) mother of his business partner. Natalie has no compunction about seducing a married man. Sally angrily confronts Natalie when she learns of the affair. Kevin and Sally divorce, due to the affair, and Kevin moves in with Natalie. However, he is unhappy and ends the relationship to return to Sally.
Sally and Kevin reconcile, partly for the girls' sake. However, Sally is seduced by Greg Kelly (Stephen Billington
Stephen Billington
Stephen Billington is a British actor, best known for playing Greg Kelly in Coronation Street . He has worked with many leading film directors, including Peter Greenaway, Franco Zeffirelli, and Mel Gibson...
). Kevin throws her out when he learns of the affair. Greg uses Sally's money (inherited from her mother) and abuses her. The affair ends but Kevin refuses to take her back, marrying Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe is an English actress. She was born in Oldham, Lancashire to Albert Radcliffe—a Canon of Manchester Cathedral—and Petrina, a teacher. She was educated at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, having not been accepted on her first attempt.Her first professional stage...
) instead. The night before the wedding, Kevin and Sally sleep together for old times' sake. This secret assignation comes out, on the day Sally is to marry Danny Hargreaves (Richard Standing
Richard Standing
Richard Standing is a British actor born in Yorkshire in 1969 who has appeared on the TV series Holby City, Coronation Street, and The Grand. He played the part of Danny Hargreaves in Coronation Street from 1999-2001...
). Danny calls their wedding off, angry that she had cheated on him and then lied about it.
Kevin's marriage to Alison is fraught. It is learned she had a traumatic childhood after her sibling drowned and Alison is suspected of intentionally killing her. When Alison is late returning Rosie and Sophie after an outing, Sally and Kevin, perhaps believing Alison really did murder her sibling, fear that Alison might have harmed them. Alison and the girls soon return - Alison had actually taken the girls to a photographer for portraits as a gift to Kevin. Alison is traumatised when she learns Kevin and Sally feared she might have harmed the girls. Alison later commits suicide after the death of her newborn son.
Kevin asks Sally to marry him again and she agrees, for the sake of their daughters. Sally has another affair with new boss, Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the British television series As Time Goes By....
), in 2005. Kevin overlooks it, pretending to believe Sally's denial. In 2009, Kevin develops an attraction to Molly Dobbs
Molly Dobbs
Molly Cosette Dobbs is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Binns, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 5 September 2005. On 7 May 2010, Binns announced she was quitting the soap...
(Vicky Binns
Vicky Binns
Victoria Jane "Vicky" Binns is an English actress who is best known for her two roles in the two veteran ITV soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street respectively. She had a lead role in 'Von trapped' opposite Caroline Quentine and also appeared in Children's Ward playing a character named...
), wife of his business partner and friend Tyrone Dobbs
Tyrone Dobbs
Tyrone Sylvester Dobbs is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by Alan Halsall, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on November 30, 1998.- Casting :...
(Alan Halsall
Alan Halsall
Alan David Halsall is an English actor best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street, a role which he has played for since 1998.-Early life:...
) and has an affair with her lasting until Christmas 2009.
1983–99
Kevin Webster arrives in WeatherfieldWeatherfield
Weatherfield is a fictional town, based on Salford in North West England, which serves as the setting for the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street...
in 1983, moving in with Hilda Ogden as her lodger. He gets a job as a mechanic at Brian Tilsley's garage. His father, Bill, and sister, Debbie, soon follow. Kevin stays in Weatherfield with Hilda after Bill remarries and he and Debbie move down to Southampton in January 1985. Kevin builds up a mother-son relationship with Hilda.
After accidentally splashing her whilst driving by in his lorry, Kevin begins dating Sally Seddon. Their romance is often strained, due to Hilda's interference, as she feels that Kevin is too good for Sally and Sally is loyal to her family, who treat her badly. Kevin proposes repeatedly but it isn't until risks his life and breaks the window of the Rovers Return Inn
Rovers Return Inn
The Rovers Return Inn is a fictional public house on the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. The Rovers Return occupies the corner of Coronation Street and Rosamund Street. Since the first episode it has been the principal setting in the show and many of its most memorable moments...
to drag Bet Lynch
Bet Lynch
Elizabeth Theresa "Bet" Lynch is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character is no longer part of current storylines. Portrayed by actress Julie Goodyear the character first appears onscreen during the episode airing on 23 May 1966. The character...
(Julie Goodyear
Julie Goodyear
Julie Goodyear, MBE is an English television actress and media personality, best known for playing the long-running role of pub landlady Bet Lynch on British soap opera Coronation Street.-Biography:...
) to safety during a fire in 1986 that Sally finally accepts. They finally marry later that year.
The following year, Hilda leaves Weatherfield, selling the house to Kevin and Sally, and Kevin continues working at the garage after his boss Brian is murdered. After much persuasion from Sally, he eventually buys it in 1996 and goes into partnership with Tony Horrocks (Lee Warburton
Lee Warburton
Lee Warburton is a British actor, known for several ongoing television roles.He appeared in Coronation Street as Tony Horrocks, Natalie Barnes' drug addict son, played gay male nurse Tony Vincent in Casualty and its spin-off Holby City in 2003, and played Melanie Costello's violent boyfriend...
). Kevin and Sally have two daughters: Rosie (born in the back of Don Brennan's (Geoffrey Hinsliff
Geoffrey Hinsliff
Geoffrey Hinsliff is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 16 August 1987 to 8 October 1997. He had previously played other characters in the same programme, in 1963 and 1977....
) taxi in December 1990) and Sophie (originally named Lauren; born in November 1994).
However their happiness doesn't last as in 1997, while Sally and the girls visit Sally's mother, Kevin begins an affair with Natalie Horrocks, mother of his business partner, Tony. Originally, their affair is no-strings attached but Natalie falls for Kevin and wants him to herself. As a result, she becomes careless in covering up the affair. Sally eventually discovers Kevin's infidelity but forgives him; however, they separate permanently after Sally has an affair with her boss, Greg Kelly. They divorce in 1999 and Sally has to fight Kevin for custody of their daughters after she leaves them with him while searching for somewhere else to live. Kevin discovers that Greg has hit Sally in front of the girls but she is still awarded custody.
2000–08
Later that year Kevin begins a relationship with factory worker Alison Wakefield, but she walks out on him when it becomes apparent that he is still in love with his Sally. However, upon discovering that she is pregnant with his child Kevin and Alison reconcile and they marry in a registry office in January 2000 with just Kevin's daughters (with Rosie now being played by Helen FlanaganHelen Flanagan
Helen Joyce Flanagan is a British actress best known for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.Flanagan has played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street since 2000, when she was ten years old....
), Roy
Roy Cropper
Royston "Roy" Cropper, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor David Neilson, the character was introduced during the episode airing on 19 July 1995. Originally a secondary character, he was given a more prominent role in 1997, by the...
(David Neilson
David Neilson
David Neilson is an English actor best known for portraying Roy Cropper in Coronation Street from 1995 onwards....
) and Hayley Cropper
Hayley Cropper
Hayley Anne Cropper is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh is an English actress.Hesmondhalgh was born in Accrington, Lancashire. As a teenager, she was moderately interested in acting, but wished to become a social worker. She applied to drama school to be with her friends, and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
), Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie
Jacqueline Pirie
Jacqueline Pirie is a Scottish actress best known for appearing in ITV's popular soap operas Emmerdale, as Tina Dingle from 1994–1996....
) and Ashley Peacock
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 :...
) present. Their happiness is not to last, however, when their son Jake dies just one day after his birth in June 2000 from a Group B streptococcal infection. Their tragedy is too much for Alison to bear and after kidnapping Sarah-Louise Platt
Sarah-Louise Grimshaw
Sarah-Louise Platt is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Creation and development:...
's (Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Sarah-Louise Platt in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Acting career:...
) newborn baby Bethany (Emily and Amy Walton) she commits suicide by stepping in front of a lorry, leaving Kevin devastated.
In the following months, Kevin had a brief romance with Molly Hardcastle (Jacqueline Kingston), a nurse introduced to him by his friend Martin Platt
Martin Platt
Martin Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, portrayed by Sean Wilson.-Departure:Actor Sean Wilson was axed from Coronation Street when a major storyline conference decided the character of Martin had been "played out". At the time, it was said that...
(Sean Wilson) whom he had helps reconsider committing suicide when it transpired that she was seriously in debt, but by 2001 he breaks up with her as he realises that he has never stopped loving Sally. He then disrupts Sally's wedding to Danny Hargreaves by informing him that on the eve of his wedding to Alison he had slept with Sally. Danny is disgusted with his fiancé and jilts her at the altar, leaving Sally humiliated and devastated.
As 2002 approaches Kevin is determined to win Sally back and eventually convinces her to remarry him, although she warns him that it is only for their daughters' sakes and their relationship would not be sexual. However, during their engagement Sally has a brief fling with Alex, a painter and decorator, which is revealed on their wedding day. Sally is then faced with the choice of spending the rest of her life with either Kevin and Alex but she chooses Kevin, who has already forgiven her for her fling with Alex, and they remarry on 9 December 2002.
During the following years Kevin continues working hard with his garage business and becomes a brotherly figure to his employee Tyrone Dobbs. He also becomes good friends with his employee Tommy Harris (Thomas Craig
Thomas Craig (actor)
Thomas Craig, is a British actor best known for his work on such TV series as Where the Heart Is and Tommy Harris in Coronation Street, and also the film The Navigators, directed by Ken Loach in 2001.Craig was originally a plumber before making the move into acting in the 1980s...
), with whom he helps save Gail Hillman
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...
(Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) and her children Sarah-Louise and David
David Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
(Jack P Shepherd) when her husband 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....
) attempts to kill them all in the Weatherfield canal in March 2003. Kevin is distraught when he discovers Tommy's body in the garage in March 2005 after he has been murdered by his daughter Katy (Lucy-Jo Hudson
Lucy-Jo Hudson
Lucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09....
).
That same year sees Sally become a pushy parent, much to Kevin and Rosie's distress. She enrols Rosie into the prestigious Oakhill School after Rosie shows good potential at Maths and forces Kevin to work extra hours at the garage so that they can afford to keep Rosie there. Sally also takes on a job as secretary to car dealer Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the British television series As Time Goes By....
, whose daughter Gemma has become friends with Rosie as they both attend Oakhill. Sally and Ian begin an affair later on in 2005, which is discovered by Rosie when she walks in on them, and when Kevin finds out the truth he is devastated and decides to end his marriage. However, Rosie persuades him to rethink his decision, convincing him that Sally does love him and is only having the affair so that she can pay her tuition fees.
In 2007 Kevin begins to think that Sally is playing away again, this time with teacher John Stape
John Stape
John Stape is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actor Graeme Hawley. He made his first on-screen appearance during the episode airing on 6 May 2007. The character departed on 3 June 2011 after four years on the show...
(Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley is an English actor known for his role as John Stape in the British soap Coronation Street.-Career:He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996 with a degree in Drama before beginning his acting career in the theatre.He started his career off by performing on stage at...
). This transpires as John is tutoring Sally, who wants to sit A-level English. John's girlfriend Fiz Brown
Fiz Brown
Fiona "Fiz" Stape is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jennie McAlpine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 April 2001. Initially appearing for five episodes, McAlpine's contract was soon extended and Fiz became a regular character...
(Jennie McAlpine
Jennie McAlpine
Jennie Elizabeth McAlpine is a British television actress and comedienne. She is best known for her role as Fiz Stape in the well known British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) also thinks that John and Sally are having an affair but when she confronts Sally on Christmas Day 2007 both the Websters and Fiz are stunned when it is revealed that John is in fact having an affair with Rosie. Kevin severely beats John and is subsequently arrested for assault, being sentenced to 28 days imprisonment. However, he only serves 14 days for good behaviour.
Kevin begins feuding with businessman 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,...
) during July 2008, who manipulates Rosie into trying to get Kevin to sell the garage to him. Kevin then sends Tony away and tells him that the garage is not for sale. Tony later invests in Kevin again, this time with Jimmy Dockerson (Robert Beck
Robert Beck (actor)
Robert Thomas Beck real name Mark Thompson, is an English actor. Educated at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham, Middlesex.He has been appearing on British television since 1991...
), Kevin responds angrily but forgets about Jimmy until he realises he is losing clients. He confronts the specific garage mechanic alone with Jimmy before confronting Tony concerning the situation, although Sally and Rosie deny Kevin's proof. Kevin later discovers that his tow truck has been stolen whilst helping a woman fix her car on a call-out. Although he has no proof, he knows that Tony is responsible for the theft. Later that year he discovers that that Rosie has been supplying Tony with business documents from the garage. He is both furious and disappointed that she has betrayed him in such a manner even though she was under the impression that she was actually helping him with his ailing business. He gives half the business to Tyrone as an incentive to help him rebuild the business. As a result of his ploy to stop Tony from gaining control of it, Kevin is now a co-owner.
Rosie later disappears leaving Sally and Kevin distraught. They initially think that she has run off with Lottery winnings from the Underworld syndicate until Janice Battersby
Janice Battersby
Janice Bernadette Battersby is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Entwistle, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 January 1997....
(Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle is an English actress who is most famous for playing the role of "loudmouth" factory worker Janice Battersby in ITV1's long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
) confesses that she claimed the cash using Rosie's identity. Sally and Kevin receive a postcard from Rosie, which leads them to believe that she is in Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
and Sally subsequently goes there searching for her to no avail. Kevin and Sally are reunited with Rosie on 5 November 2008, after it is revealed that John Stape had abducted her. Kevin threatens John but is restrained by a detective.
2009—
During mid 2009, Kevin becomes attracted to Molly DobbsMolly Dobbs
Molly Cosette Dobbs is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Binns, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 5 September 2005. On 7 May 2010, Binns announced she was quitting the soap...
(Vicky Binns
Vicky Binns
Victoria Jane "Vicky" Binns is an English actress who is best known for her two roles in the two veteran ITV soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street respectively. She had a lead role in 'Von trapped' opposite Caroline Quentine and also appeared in Children's Ward playing a character named...
), wife of his business partner and best friend Tyrone. Molly begins to take an interest in the business and starts sharing the book-keeping with Sally, meaning that she would be spending more time with Kevin. Eventually he breaks down and confesses to Molly in June 2009, saying that he is infatuated with her. This causes mixed reactions within Molly who slaps him across the face initially but later tells him that she is flattered by his statement. They begin to plot an affair together and after a series of mishaps their chance finally comes when Kevin sneaks away from Sally's birthday party in July 2009 and has sex with a waiting Molly on her sofa. Afterwards, Kevin feels guilty and decides to end their fling before it gets out of hand by persuading Tyrone to take Molly away on holiday. They resume their affair, however, in August 2009.
They soon confess their love for each other, and pledge to leave their respective spouses and start a new life together. However, Kevin keeps finding some excuse not to tell Sally, including Sophie (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 :...
)'s baptisms and her GCSEs. On Christmas Day 2009, Kevin convinces Molly that they should come clean about their affair that same day. However, when he sits Sally down, she has a confession of her own to make - she has breast cancer. Kevin tells Molly about Sally's breast cancer and makes it clear that that their affair is over as it is the least of his worries, and how he would support Sally through her illness. Molly then discovered that she was expecting his child, but as Kevin wanted nothing to do with her or the baby, Molly passed the baby off as her Tyrone's.
In August 2010 at Roy and Hayley's wedding, Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Julia Haworth, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 9 April 2003, as the new nanny of established character Ashley Peacock's son Joshua...
(Julia Haworth
Julia Haworth
Julia Louise Haworth is an English actress best known as Claire Peacock on ITV's Coronation Street, a role she has played since 2003...
) tells the Street that she caught Sophie and her best friend Sian Powers
Sian Powers
Sian Powers is a fictional character on the UK soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actress Sacha Parkinson. Sian was introduced as a love interest for Sophie Webster . Sian joined the cast of Coronation Street alongside Ben Richardson in early 2009 as Sophie's schoolmates...
(Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Louise Parkinson is a British actress best known for playing Sian Powers in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street from January 2009 onwards. Her character will leave the show in January 2012.-Career:...
) kissing a few days previously, however, Kevin and Sally don't believe her. Sophie later confesses to her shocked father the truth that night, that she and Sian are in love. Kevin is very supportive of Sophie's sexuality, but Sophie still decides to run away with Sian, much to Kevin and Sally's devastation. They are later reunited with her after Rosie tracks her down to Sheffield and brings them home.
On 6 December 2010, Kevin witnesses a huge explosion which tears through 'The Joinery' Bar and is thrown to the ground by the force of the blast. A tram then derails off the viaduct and smashes into the front of the already damaged corner shop, crushing Molly, who is inside with baby Jack and her former boss Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Shobna Gulati. She made her first on-screen appearance on 23 March 2001 and remained in the show until 2005, when the character was axed from the serial by producer Tony Wood...
(Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati is an English actress, writer, and dancer of Indian origin, best known for playing Anita in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, and Sunita Alahan in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street from 2001 to 2006, a role to which she returned at the end of 2009...
). He then attempts to free Molly along with Tyrone, but does not make much progress, he is then pulled back when the emergency services arrive. Sally sits with Molly to comfort her whilst she is dying and just before she dies, she confesses to Sally that Kevin is the father of baby Jack.
This leaves Sally devastated and after confronting Kevin, who admits the truth, she tells him to leave, which he does, returning to the hospital to see how Jack is doing. When Jack gets discharged from hospital, Tyrone goes to Kevin and Sally's house for help to look after him. However, Sally goes out, not being able to face Jack. Kevin then spots her in the cafe where he fails to convince her that he still loves her. Sally then says she wants him to leave for good. When he goes to The Rovers, he meets Bill and Pam. Pam expresses her grief at her loss of Molly and blames Kevin for her death and that she does not know how to break the news to Molly's father Diggory (Eric Potts
Eric Potts
Eric Potts is a British actor, who had parts in Coronation Street, as eccentric baker Diggory Compton, the father of Molly Compton, and Brookside as Wrexham Football Club Supporter, Mr Moore....
).
On 17 December 2010, Molly is laid to rest. At the funeral Tyrone breaks down while giving his eulogy to his deceased wife and Kevin goes to the pulpit to take over in order to help Tyrone. As Kevin reads Tyrone's tribute, Sally is disgusted and suddenly runs out of the church. Tyrone's suspicions are aroused when he sees Kevin and Sally arguing outside the church as the coffin is being brought out. At the graveside, Tyrone, already knowing that he is not Jack's father, pieces the clues together and realises that it is Kevin. He attacks Kevin by the graveside and punches him, causing him to fall into the grave on top of Molly's coffin. Later, Sally, Rosie and Sophie all order a shamed Kevin to leave the house, despite his pleas for forgiveness. Kevin spends the night in the garage and later goes to The Rovers for a drink where everybody watches him in disgust. Kevin leaves the pub and goes to his house. He hammers on the door and barges in when Sally answers and refuses to leave. Sally calls the police but Sophie begs her not to have him arrested. Sally agrees to let Kevin stay for one night on condition that he stay away from her.
The next day, Tyrone dumped baby Jack to Kevin, much to Sally and Rosie's disgust. Rosie moves out of the Webster's house. On Christmas Eve, Sally points out that watching Kevin with Jack makes her hate him even more and wants rid of them both. He tries to tell Tyrone to have baby Jack back, but he doesn't want anything to do with either of them again. Kevin moves out, but after a desperate plea from Sophie, Sally allows Kevin to stay for Christmas Day.
On New Year's Eve, Kevin accepts the fact that Jack is his baby with Molly and that he is not wanted in his family and moves out of Coronation Street, but returns a week later only to find Tyrone walking out of his house in the morning. That same night he confronts him, but Sally tells Kevin that whatever she does and who with is none of his business. The next day, Kevin's anger eventually boils over and he beats up Tyrone in the street, leaving him with a bloodied lip, and announces that he is filing for a divorce. He also calls an estate agent to value the house. Sally admits to Kevin that she lied to him because she wanted to hurt him. They agree to a truce but when Kevin suggests they have another go together as a family, Sally refuses point blank.
A bitter feud breaks out between Kevin and Sally during the following month and constantly argue. Kevin shows the house to a buyer, who is put off by Sally when she deliberately leaves the house in a mess. The buyer returns later, but is put off again by Sally and neighbour Eddie Windass
Eddie Windass
Edward "Eddie" Windass is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Steve Huison, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 14 November 2008. On 5 December 2010, it was announced that Eddie is to leave Coronation Street...
(Steve Huison
Steve Huison
Steve Huison , is a British actor, mostly on TV and occasional films. He trained at the Rose Bruford College in Sidcup. He is best known for his role as "Lomper" in the massively successful UK box-office and critical hit The Full Monty . He also appeared in a Ken Loach film The Navigators, made in...
) who she invites round for dinner. The same week, Rosie tells Kevin that she wants to get to know Jack better and see him more, but actually needs him for a modelling audition. When she fails it, she brings the wrong baby home, much to Kevin's anger. Kevin collects Jack from the studio and demands that Rosie stay away from them. For the next few days, he ignores her; however, when Rosie's boss Alfie, Sally's new boyfriend Jeff Cullen) fires her, Kevin supports her and offers to punch Alfie.
Kevin and Sally's arguing has a negative effect on Sophie and she gets drunk and after confronting her pastor and believing that her life is falling apart, she falls off the church roof. Sally turns on Kevin, until Sian interrupts and explains that they are both equally to blame for Sophie's accident. Kevin and Sally accept this and Sally invites him to spend the evening with her after they come home from the hospital. Sally gets upset and accepts a hug from Kevin, but after getting the wrong impression, he tries to kiss her and she asks him to leave.
On the day that Kevin and Sally meet to finalise their divorce, Kevin wins £200,000 on a scratch card and keeps it secret. Tyrone, after hearing the news, goes to the solicitor's office and tells Sally just as she is about to sign the divorce papers. On hearing the news, Sally refuses to sign the papers, and demands half of Kevin's money, totalling £100,000. The following week, Sally receives a bouquet of flowers which she thinks are from Jeff, but are actually from Kevin. Kevin goes on to buy a new car for Sally. He is later disappointed to learn that Sally sold the car and declares it a windfall. A court official then approaches Kevin in The Rovers and reveals that Sally has got the lottery money frozen temporaily and that he has been summoned to court the following week. The court rules in favour of Kevin when Sally loses her temper when Kevin's lawyer brings up her affair with Ian Davenport. After being encouraged by Bill, however, Kevin gives all the money to Sally.
Sally decides to give half of Kevin's winnings back to him in order for him to be able to provide for Jack and they call a truce. When Jeff reveals he is taking Sally to Paris for a fortnight and gloats in front of Kevin, Sally apologises to Kevin for Jeff's attitude and they remember their wedding anniversary trip to Paris five years earlier. Kevin bids Sally farewell and they part on good terms.
In May 2011, Kevin and Tyrone's feuding at the garage takes a violent turn when Tyrone, in a fit of rage, damages a new hydrualic lift that Kevin had just bought. Kevin is crushed underneath a car he is working on when it gives way and is saved by Tyrone and Tommy Duckworth
Tommy Duckworth
Thomas "Tommy" Duckworth is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Currently portrayed by actor Chris Fountain. The character was born on-screen during the episode airing on 9 September 1992 and departed in December 1993, before returning for four short...
(Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
). When Tyrone confesses to causing the damage to the lift, Kevin forgives him and they call an awkward truce for the sake of their business in order for them to be able to work together.
Sally returns from Paris on the same day of the accident and offers Kevin the chance to stay at the house while he recovers from the crush (giving him a broken collarbone) and he agrees. One day in June
June
June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of the four months with a length of 30 days. Ovid provides two etymologies for June's name in his poem concerning the months entitled the Fasti...
, he isn't happy when he walks into the house one day and sees Sophie and Sian giving as much money as they can to Ken Barlow
Ken Barlow
Kenneth "Ken" Barlow is a long-standing fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by William Roache, and created by Tony Warren. He is currently the world's longest-serving soap opera character, having appeared continuously from the programme's inception in December...
's grandson James Cunningham (James Roache
James Roache
James Roache is a British actor and is perhaps best known for his roles in Coronation Street as Ken Barlow's long-lost grandson James, or as his father William Roache in BBC drama The Road to Coronation Street....
), when the soup kitchen is reportedly burgled. He bans the two from the kitchen and is left surprised when Sally (who disagrees with most things he says) backs him up. He is left angered when Sophie ignores the ban and takes on a role as one of the managers.
Eventually, he softens and supports the charity auction held at the bistro. The following day, Kevin gets the all-clear about his collarbone and then receives a shock when Sophie asks for a loan of £20,000 to help the charity gain the money they need for the house. Kevin refuses, saying £20,000 is too much.
The following day, Kevin still maintains his refusal on the loan and then talks to Peter and Leanne Barlow about it behind Sophie's back, causing her to take drastic measures and retrieve a letter from the bank (thrown by Kevin) about online banking from the bin and sends £20,000 over to the charity heads, hiding everything successfully and leaving Kevin oblivious. Meanwhile, Sally and Kevin's relationship is growing better and better by the day, as Sally doesn't ask Kevin to move back to the flat and they are no longer arguing.
The following day, Sophie and Sian are horrified to leave the charity never bid for the house and are ever more horrified to see the soup kitchen being demolished, with builders insisting it has been unoccupied for months. Failing to track the charity leaders Rob and Janet, Sophie and Sian realise that they've lost £20,000. Forced to confess, she tells Kevin, who flies into a rage and storms into the Barlow household, to confront James, who insists he knows nothing about the scam and is supported by each member of the Barlow family (except Tracy, who has suspicions). Making it clear he can't trust Sophie again, he is aggressive the following day and his aggression makes a great commentary track for Tyrone and Tommy. Eventually, Kevin calls the police, but during an interview, he lies and tells the police that he transferred the cash and ends his minor feud with Sally, though she does sternly warn him he needs to become a proper father to Sophie, like he used to be.
However, when Ken learns James was in on the scam, he feels terribly upset and tells everything to the Websters, angering Kevin.
In September, Kevin learns from Tyrone he has found a new love in Kirsty Soames, a police officer when he meets her at a bar. However, Tommy then confesses to Kevin he paid Kirsty to flirt with Tyrone. Kev is disgusted and demands Tommy reveal this to Tyrone, calling it cruel.
Towards the end of September, Kevin learns from Rosie that his sister Debbie has successfully brought a villa in Turkey and plans to take Jack there. However, he learns that if he wants to take Jack, he'll have to apply for parental responsibility to change his passport. He speaks to Ken about it, remembering that he adopted Tracy Barlow
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...
(Kate Ford
Kate Ford
Kate Connerty is a British actress best known for playing the role of Tracy Barlow in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2002 to 2007. Kate returned to Coronation Street on Christmas Eve 2010....
). He learns some ideas about it, but Ken warns him that he'll have to talk with Tyrone about it. Later, Kevin and Tyrone are working, when Ty discovers a leaflet that Ken gave Kev and clocks on about what is going on. Fuming, he tells Kev to do what he wants.
The tension between Kev and Ty carries on until the next morning, when Bill and Pam turn up with news that they are engaged. However, Pam is appalled to learn that Kev is still at the house AND he is going to change Jack's surname. She tears into Sally about the former issue, which prompts Sal to finally ask Kevin to leave: he reluctantly agrees. The next day, at the garage, Bill and Pam hand out wedding invites. However, an argument erupts between Kevin and Pam when she bans Kevin from the wedding and he bans Pam from seeing Jack.
All the arguing puts stress on Bill, who collapses and suffers a heart attack. He is taken to hospital, where the arguing continues until Sal puts a stop to it. Later that evening, Sal tells Kev he can go tomorrow instead of said evening. They chat and suddenly embrace, kissing.
However, they break up the following day when Kev takes Sal for granted and tells Sophie they're back together. This pushes Sally back to ex-boyfriend Jeff and they resume their relationship, much to the disgust of Rosie and Sophie.
Over the coming weeks, Kevin accepts Sal has moved on and decides to stop trying to win her back. However, it is in the final full week of October, that Kev and Sal return to good terms. An example of this is when an ecstatic Sophie announces she and Sian are engaged. Kev refuses to give his permission (since Soph is only 16) outright and Sal agrees with him.
The following day, Kevin and Rosie's boyfriend Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
are concerned when Rosie doesn't return from a flat viewing. After learning that the viewer's telephone number isn't real when they ask the estate agent, they race to the flat next to the Kabin. They bash the door down and discover Rosie tied up. Suddenly, Jason is attacked when a man throws a vase over him and Kevin realises by then that the man is John Stape, who kidnapped Rosie and coached her over the course of his actions (see John Stape
John Stape
John Stape is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actor Graeme Hawley. He made his first on-screen appearance during the episode airing on 6 May 2007. The character departed on 3 June 2011 after four years on the show...
). Kevin races after him, but loses sight of him on the Street. As he tells a horrified Sally, John races past him in his car. Kevin races after him in the car he's working on at the garage. A car chase ensues and ends when John crashes his car into a truck trailer.
The next day, as Rosie gives her statement, she thanks her dad for rescuing her and Kevin becomes the hero of the Webster family. When John dies, Kevin is relieved at this news and once again has to stop Sally from making a fool out of herself around on the day of Fiz's sentencing, when she belittles Fiz's friends and family for supporting a murderer. He jumps to her defence in the Rovers when Julie Carp attacks Sally for her belittling comments on Fiz.
Later in the week, Sophie celebrates her 17th birthday. However, all is once again overshadowed by Rosie when Kevin reads an article in the Gazette which talks about her second kidnapping, as well as insensitive comments about Sally's cancer, Kevin's affair and raising of baby Jack and about Sophie being a lesbian. Kevin is left absolutely fuming, as is Sally. The pair then act in unison to throw Jeff out of the house when they learn he convinced Rosie to write the article and try to make what's left best of Sophie's party. They manage to pull it off successfully, with Kev supplying and pulling off a superb firework display. In personal terms, Kev and Sal are once again back on good terms, as Sally doesn't mind Kevin coming into the house and they are much kinder than they were.
Reception
Le Vell was nominated in the category of "Best Actor" at the 2011 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
.