Coronation Street: Who's Who?

Bet Lynch: played by Julie Goodyear

Personal details: The Rovers’ most loved barmaid and wearer of Corrie’s most memorable earrings, raunchy Bet became landlady of the famous boozer in the mid-80s. Taking over the 'liberal' woman mantle from Elsie Tanner, Bet was best known for her flirtatious banter, her disastrous romances and her outrageous leopard skin print outfits.

Great personality? Despite being one of life’s survivors, Bet was her own worst enemy during the 1970s, heartbroken by a string of unsuitable men before marrying Alec Gilroy in 1987 to create one of The Street’s great couples. The Rovers was her life – she even survived a massive fire in 1986 – but she was forced to lay down her bar towel for the last time in 1995 after Newton and Ridley sold off the pub.

Typical line: "Evening sunshine. What can I get yer? The usual?"

Personal details: Tanned and cheeky cockney underwear factory owner with a talent for wheeler dealing and a twinkle in the eye. Worked his way through 25 girlfriends and four wives, as well as ruining a fair few marriages, before developing Alzheimer’s and dying tragically in enemy Ken Barlow’s arms from a massive heart attack in April 2006.

Great personality? Definitely where the ladies were concerned. His most famous affair was being part of the Ken/Deidre/Mike love triangle before moving on to Ken’s daughter Susan. The nifty suits and posh cars also ensnared the likes of Alma Sedgewick, Jackie Ingram and even loud-mouthed machinist Linda Sykes who was half his age. The onset of Alzheimers meant Mike spent his twilight years permanently bewildered but it still didn’t stop him battling to win the girl to the bitter end as he told Ken with his very last words: &You’re finished, Barlow. Deidre loves me, she’s mine.&

Typical line: "Right that’s enough of that girls, GET BACK TO WORK!"