Natalie Barnes
Encyclopedia
Natalie Felicity Barnes is played by Denise Welch
. She appears from 26 February 1997 until 31 December 2000.
), co-owner of MVB Motors suffers a breakdown after running over and killing Joyce Smedley (Anita Carey
) in his car. She takes over the running of the garage, implementing a new billing system computer program and acting as part owner and manager in her son's absence. There she begins a relationship with Tony's business partner Kevin Webster
(Michael Le Vell
), despite the fact he is married and a lot younger than her. She seduces him and convinces him that she only wants an affair with no strings attached. Kevin, who is lonely as his wife Sally
(Sally Dynevor) is in Scarborough, decides to take a chance and he and Natalie embark on an affair.
After a period of time, Natalie decides that she wants Kevin full time as she has fallen in love with him. She convinces him to leave Sally and move in with her, which he does. As a result of this Natalie becomes the most hated woman on the Street and Sally slaps her. Sally demands money for their daughters' upbringing, putting a strain on Natalie and Kevin's relationship. By Christmas 1997, Kevin begins to miss his family. He leaves Natalie and returns to Sally and his children. Natalie is devastated at her loss.
After finding herself unwanted at the garage, and feeling that it does not warrant her time, Natalie gets a job as the Rovers's new barmaid. The regulars are dismayed by this and some refuse to drink there. With time, the regulars soften and Natalie becomes less offensive and people start to like her off-the-cuff manner.
Natalie becomes friendly with Des Barnes
(Philip Middlemiss
) while he is dating her colleague, fellow barmaid Samantha Failsworth (Tina Hobley
). When their relationship ends, Natalie is there as a friend for Des. Samantha begins stalking Natalie and is jealous of her friendship with Des. When Samantha kidnaps Natalie's cat, the relationship between Des and Natalie grows. She struggles for months to fight her attraction to him but in the end, they find themselves together. This is the relationship they had both longed for and they consider each other a perfect match.
Tony's return to the Street in the autumn of 1998 triggers events that leave Natalie devastated. In early October, Des proposes to her and she accepts. Their wedding is the event of the Street and all the residents attend. The marquee is decorated by Hayley Patterson (Julie Hesmondhalgh
), the best man is Les Battersby (Bruce Jones
) and the champagne flows. It is a union toasted by everybody except the Websters.
Unknown to all except Des, Tony has arrived on the Street with serious problems. He is now a drug dealer and in big financial trouble. He needs money and Natalie is quick to give him what he needs, although she never knows what it is for. It is not enough. While at home one night Tony is accosted by three drug dealers, looking for the money that he owes them. Des happens to be there as they attack Tony and while trying to help him, he is hit on the head, sending him crashing onto the coffee table. Des dies in hospital of a heart attack. Bereft and looking for a new start, Natalie seeks comfort from the Rovers. Finding that it is for sale, Natalie buys the pub from Alec Gilroy
(Roy Barraclough
) on 30 December 1998. After shifting Jack
(William Tarmey
) and Vera Duckworth
(Elizabeth Dawn
) from their lodgings upstairs, Natalie moves into the pub and redecorates.
As the Rovers landlady, Natalie has a brief relationship with Ian Bentley (Jonathan Guy Lewis), aware that he is engaged but unaware that his fiancee is Rita Sullivan
(Barbara Knox
)'s former foster daughter Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett
). Rovers' barmaid Betty Williams
(Betty Driver
) sees Natalie and Ian together, and tells Rita - who confronts Natalie. Natalie finishes with Ian and Sharon leaves him at the altar; however, after this, Natalie and Sharon do not get on.
After the break-up of her marriage to Nick Tilsley
(Adam Rickett), Leanne Battersby
(Jane Danson
) moves into the Rovers with Natalie. The Rovers is robbed on New Year's Day 2000 after Leanne falls into debt with drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman
) over her cocaine addiction. The Rovers robbery leaves Leanne hospitalised, and after she confesses to Natalie, Natalie agrees to support her, and seeks help for her with a drug counsellor.
In March 2000, Natalie is devastated to discover that the body recently found on the new development of Victoria Street is that of her son, Tony. He is found by Natalie's on and off lover, Vinny Sorrell (James Gaddas
), after he falls through a hole. Vinny has worked with Natalie as barman in the Rovers but when they decide working together is bad for their relationship, he takes a job as a labourer. Natalie suffers a breakdown, confused over her feelings over Tony's death, as she had blamed him for causing Des's death. Des's brother Colin Barnes
(Ian Embleton) makes a scene at Tony's funeral, which leads to the police questioning him. To avoid arrest, he tells the police that he was with Natalie on the night Tony died. Natalie is ashamed, especially as it damages her relationship with Vinny, but is determined to find out who has murdered her son, putting up a £10,000 award for information, regarding Tony's death. Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
) tells Natalie that had threatened him about using the mini-cab firm to supply drugs. When Steve stands up to him, Jez says that he would have to face the fate that had befallen Tony. Natalie goes to the police with this information and Jez is arrested but is found not guilty when Steve's motives as a witness are questioned.
Natalie starts rebuilding her life, and discovers that she is pregnant with Vinnie's baby, but faces another blow on discovering that Vinny is dating her sister, Debs Brownlow (Gabrielle Glaister
). She had recently moved to Weatherfield after working as a hairdresser on cruise ships. Natalie feels she cannot forgive them for this, and rejects both of them and evicts Debs from No.6. They leave Weatherfield tgether, going to Southampton, with Vinny hoping to get a job with Debs on a cruise ship, unaware that Natalie is pregnant. Natalie wants to keep the baby but decides that she doesn't want to bring her child up in a pub and in urban Weatherfield. During Christmas 2000, after inviting Kevin for Christmas dinner, she is accosted by Sally in The Rovers. Sally assumes that she is trying to seduce Kevin again but Natalie retorts by telling her that she has some nerve to accuse her of attempting to seduce Kevin after she slept with Kevin the night before he married Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe
) and Sally leaves the pub, humiliated. Natalie sells the Rovers intending to start a new life in the Cotswolds, but there are protests from the residents when Natalie decides to sell to the Boozy Chain, who intend to call the place The Boozy Newt. After some negotiation, businessmen Duggie Ferguson (John Bowe), Fred Elliott
(John Savident
) and Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
) agree to buy the pub and save it from its fate with the Boozy Chain. Natalie leaves Weatherfield on 31 December 2000.
In February 2001, barmaid Geena Gregory (Jennifer James
) announces in the Rovers that Natalie has given birth to a baby girl named Laura. It is uncertain if Natalie still has shares in Kevin Webster's garage.
Natalie is mentioned again in November 2009 when Kevin starts an affair with Molly Dobbs
(Vicky Binns
). Molly's husband Tyrone
(Alan Halsall
) tells Molly about Kevin's past affairs, saying that Natalie was the biggest of them all but he and Sally would always end up back together.
Welch said: "I am looking forward to being a mum again and spending some time with my baby and am relishing the prospect of new challenges in my career."
A Granada spokeswoman said the company had known of her decision "for some time. This has given us the opportunity to give a dramatic exit for the character of Natalie Barnes for the end of the year, The character will not be killed off and the door will be left open for her possible return. We wish Denise well both for the birth of her baby and for her future career. Natalie's exit will come in December - the month which sees Coronation Street's 40th birthday. Viewers have seen her steal Kevin Webster, from his wife Sally, and her own husband Des Barnes was murdered a month after they married last year.
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...
. She appears from 26 February 1997 until 31 December 2000.
1997–2000
Natalie Horrocks first appears on Coronation Street in February 1997 after her son Tony Horrocks (Lee WarburtonLee 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...
), co-owner of MVB Motors suffers a breakdown after running over and killing Joyce Smedley (Anita Carey
Anita Carey
Anita Carey is an English actress, best known for playing Joyce Smedley in Coronation Street and more recently for playing Vivien March in Doctors. Carey has had starring roles in British television dramas since the 1970s.-Career:...
) in his car. She takes over the running of the garage, implementing a new billing system computer program and acting as part owner and manager in her son's absence. There she begins a relationship with Tony's business partner Kevin Webster
Kevin Webster
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...
(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....
), despite the fact he is married and a lot younger than her. She seduces him and convinces him that she only wants an affair with no strings attached. Kevin, who is lonely as his wife Sally
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) is in Scarborough, decides to take a chance and he and Natalie embark on an affair.
After a period of time, Natalie decides that she wants Kevin full time as she has fallen in love with him. She convinces him to leave Sally and move in with her, which he does. As a result of this Natalie becomes the most hated woman on the Street and Sally slaps her. Sally demands money for their daughters' upbringing, putting a strain on Natalie and Kevin's relationship. By Christmas 1997, Kevin begins to miss his family. He leaves Natalie and returns to Sally and his children. Natalie is devastated at her loss.
After finding herself unwanted at the garage, and feeling that it does not warrant her time, Natalie gets a job as the Rovers's new barmaid. The regulars are dismayed by this and some refuse to drink there. With time, the regulars soften and Natalie becomes less offensive and people start to like her off-the-cuff manner.
Natalie becomes friendly with Des Barnes
Des Barnes
Desmond Francis "Des" Barnes is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Philip Middlemiss.-Creation and development:...
(Philip Middlemiss
Philip Middlemiss
Philip Middlemiss is a British television and radio actor, who played bookmaker Des Barnes in ITV's Coronation Street...
) while he is dating her colleague, fellow barmaid Samantha Failsworth (Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley is an English actress.-Early life:Very shy as a child, Hobley was sent to speech and drama classes in an attempt to counter her introversion...
). When their relationship ends, Natalie is there as a friend for Des. Samantha begins stalking Natalie and is jealous of her friendship with Des. When Samantha kidnaps Natalie's cat, the relationship between Des and Natalie grows. She struggles for months to fight her attraction to him but in the end, they find themselves together. This is the relationship they had both longed for and they consider each other a perfect match.
Tony's return to the Street in the autumn of 1998 triggers events that leave Natalie devastated. In early October, Des proposes to her and she accepts. Their wedding is the event of the Street and all the residents attend. The marquee is decorated by Hayley Patterson (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...
), the best man is Les Battersby (Bruce Jones
Bruce Jones
Ian Roy Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as cab driver Les Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street. He left the role in 2007. His real name is Ian Roy Jones, but he took the name of his father for professional purposes.-Early life:Jones was born to Bruce and Irene Jones in...
) and the champagne flows. It is a union toasted by everybody except the Websters.
Unknown to all except Des, Tony has arrived on the Street with serious problems. He is now a drug dealer and in big financial trouble. He needs money and Natalie is quick to give him what he needs, although she never knows what it is for. It is not enough. While at home one night Tony is accosted by three drug dealers, looking for the money that he owes them. Des happens to be there as they attack Tony and while trying to help him, he is hit on the head, sending him crashing onto the coffee table. Des dies in hospital of a heart attack. Bereft and looking for a new start, Natalie seeks comfort from the Rovers. Finding that it is for sale, Natalie buys the pub from Alec Gilroy
Alec Gilroy
Alexander "Alec" Gilroy is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Roy Barraclough. The character made several appearances in the show as a small-time talent agent, the first in 1972, and later as a series regular from 1986 to 1992. He reappeared briefly in...
(Roy Barraclough
Roy Barraclough
Roy Barraclough MBE is a comic actor. He is best known for his role as the shifty, lugubrious landlord of the Rovers Return, Alec Gilroy in the long-running British TV soap Coronation Street where he formed an on-screen partnership with Bet Lynch .- Career :Roy Barraclough...
) on 30 December 1998. After shifting Jack
Jack Duckworth
John Harold "Jack" Duckworth is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. He is played by actor William Tarmey. The character debuted onscreen during the episode...
(William Tarmey
William Tarmey
Bill Tarmey is an English actor, singer and author, best known for playing Jack Duckworth on the soap opera Coronation Street. First appearing in the role in 1979, he played it continuously from 1983 to 2010.-Life and career:Tarmey was born in Ardwick, Manchester...
) and Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
(Elizabeth Dawn
Elizabeth Dawn
Elizabeth 'Liz' Dawn MBE , is an English actress, best known for her role as Vera Duckworth in the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street...
) from their lodgings upstairs, Natalie moves into the pub and redecorates.
As the Rovers landlady, Natalie has a brief relationship with Ian Bentley (Jonathan Guy Lewis), aware that he is engaged but unaware that his fiancee is 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...
)'s former foster daughter Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett
Tracie Bennett
Tracie Bennett is an English stage and television actress. She trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Clapham, London...
). Rovers' barmaid 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...
(Betty Driver
Betty Driver
Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Driver, MBE was an English singer, actress and author, best known for her role as Betty Williams on the British soap opera, Coronation Street, appearing in more than 2,800 episodes...
) sees Natalie and Ian together, and tells Rita - who confronts Natalie. Natalie finishes with Ian and Sharon leaves him at the altar; however, after this, Natalie and Sharon do not get on.
After the break-up of her marriage to Nick Tilsley
Nick Tilsley
Nicholas Paul "Nick" Tilsley is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street. Originally known as "Nicky", he was the first-born child of Brian Tilsley and Gail Platt , and has been portrayed by three different actors. Warren Jackson from 1981 to 1996, then by Adam Rickitt...
(Adam Rickett), Leanne Battersby
Leanne Battersby
Leanne Anika Barlow is a fictional character on the soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Jane Danson, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 July 1997....
(Jane Danson
Jane Danson
Jane Danson is an English actress, most famous for playing the role of Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.-Acting:...
) moves into the Rovers with Natalie. The Rovers is robbed on New Year's Day 2000 after Leanne falls into debt with drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman
Lee Boardman
Lee Boardman is an English actor and narrator.-Television:He is best known for playing Murray Priestman in Drop Dead Gorgeous as well as the drug dealer Jez Quigley in Coronation Street...
) over her cocaine addiction. The Rovers robbery leaves Leanne hospitalised, and after she confesses to Natalie, Natalie agrees to support her, and seeks help for her with a drug counsellor.
In March 2000, Natalie is devastated to discover that the body recently found on the new development of Victoria Street is that of her son, Tony. He is found by Natalie's on and off lover, Vinny Sorrell (James Gaddas
James Gaddas
James Gaddas is an English actor probably best known for playing Governing Governor Neil Grayling in ITV's Bad Girls between 2002 and 2006. Prior to this he played Vinnie Sorrell in Coronation Street between 1999–2000, and had a supporting role in ITV's Medics...
), after he falls through a hole. Vinny has worked with Natalie as barman in the Rovers but when they decide working together is bad for their relationship, he takes a job as a labourer. Natalie suffers a breakdown, confused over her feelings over Tony's death, as she had blamed him for causing Des's death. Des's brother Colin Barnes
Colin Barnes
Colin Barnes is an English former professional footballer born in Notting Hill, London, who played as a forward in the Football League for Torquay United....
(Ian Embleton) makes a scene at Tony's funeral, which leads to the police questioning him. To avoid arrest, he tells the police that he was with Natalie on the night Tony died. Natalie is ashamed, especially as it damages her relationship with Vinny, but is determined to find out who has murdered her son, putting up a £10,000 award for information, regarding Tony's death. Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
) tells Natalie that had threatened him about using the mini-cab firm to supply drugs. When Steve stands up to him, Jez says that he would have to face the fate that had befallen Tony. Natalie goes to the police with this information and Jez is arrested but is found not guilty when Steve's motives as a witness are questioned.
Natalie starts rebuilding her life, and discovers that she is pregnant with Vinnie's baby, but faces another blow on discovering that Vinny is dating her sister, Debs Brownlow (Gabrielle Glaister
Gabrielle Glaister
Gabrielle Glaister is an English actress.-Early life:She was a school friend of Ben Elton at Godalming Grammar School on Tuesley Lane in Godalming, Surrey; Glaister was in the year below Elton...
). She had recently moved to Weatherfield after working as a hairdresser on cruise ships. Natalie feels she cannot forgive them for this, and rejects both of them and evicts Debs from No.6. They leave Weatherfield tgether, going to Southampton, with Vinny hoping to get a job with Debs on a cruise ship, unaware that Natalie is pregnant. Natalie wants to keep the baby but decides that she doesn't want to bring her child up in a pub and in urban Weatherfield. During Christmas 2000, after inviting Kevin for Christmas dinner, she is accosted by Sally in The Rovers. Sally assumes that she is trying to seduce Kevin again but Natalie retorts by telling her that she has some nerve to accuse her of attempting to seduce Kevin after she slept with Kevin the night before he married 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...
) and Sally leaves the pub, humiliated. Natalie sells the Rovers intending to start a new life in the Cotswolds, but there are protests from the residents when Natalie decides to sell to the Boozy Chain, who intend to call the place The Boozy Newt. After some negotiation, businessmen Duggie Ferguson (John Bowe), Fred Elliott
Fred Elliott
Frederick Handel "Fred" Elliott is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by John Savident from 1994 until 2006.-Development:...
(John Savident
John Savident
John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner....
) and Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs
John Briggs may refer to:*Johnny Briggs , English cricketer*Johnny Briggs , English actor who played Mike Baldwin in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1976 to 2006...
) agree to buy the pub and save it from its fate with the Boozy Chain. Natalie leaves Weatherfield on 31 December 2000.
In February 2001, barmaid Geena Gregory (Jennifer James
Jennifer James
Jennifer James, is an English actress born on 3 December 1977 in Billinge Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester.-Early life:...
) announces in the Rovers that Natalie has given birth to a baby girl named Laura. It is uncertain if Natalie still has shares in Kevin Webster's garage.
Natalie is mentioned again in November 2009 when Kevin starts an affair with 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...
). Molly's husband Tyrone
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:...
) tells Molly about Kevin's past affairs, saying that Natalie was the biggest of them all but he and Sally would always end up back together.
Departure
In 2000, it was reported that Denise Welch would leave the ITV soap at the end of the year as she was expecting a baby in March, but it is believed she had planned to leave the series anyway before learning of her pregnancy.Welch said: "I am looking forward to being a mum again and spending some time with my baby and am relishing the prospect of new challenges in my career."
A Granada spokeswoman said the company had known of her decision "for some time. This has given us the opportunity to give a dramatic exit for the character of Natalie Barnes for the end of the year, The character will not be killed off and the door will be left open for her possible return. We wish Denise well both for the birth of her baby and for her future career. Natalie's exit will come in December - the month which sees Coronation Street's 40th birthday. Viewers have seen her steal Kevin Webster, from his wife Sally, and her own husband Des Barnes was murdered a month after they married last year.