coronation street née preston previously long standing fictional character british itv soap opera coronation street portrayed music hall star driver cast betty auditioning role character arrived coronation street help sister run corner shop number storylines seen twice widowed mother illegitimate son working soap betty created signature dish known betty real life range based dish launched world largest lancashire created based betty recipe driver died october betty subsequently written character dying screen illness april creation performing years old retired acting late run hotels spotted customers producer coronation street persuaded audition role eventually turn role tied advertising contract refused release eventually went driver commented producer coronation street persuaded audition think wearing years cast new character commenting casting driver said said betty like pull television suppose expected months went managed rid following appearance driver remained role betty continuously suggested gave die month sheer interview laughed notion retirement saying day street kind fact son long want happy stay street like home family confirmed intention remain character celebrated birthday news world reported driver decided retire prior actress birthday driver distressed assured producer intention remain soap told betty plans series upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations driver died october having appeared episodes coronation street development backstory betty born february world war affair resulting son gordon left return family gordon adopted betty sister husband betty celebrated end war sweetheart lost lost touch betty married policeman storylines betty husband coronation street june helping sister run local corner shop following breakup marriage betty interference persuades landlord betty job return inn public house betty clashes annie speed fears jack find attractive fires betty result betty takes job rival pub returns annie betty close friends fellow occasion uses betty dates frequently seeks advice running life employment policeman causes betty problems man previously arrested begins stalking initially telling fearing trouble finds attacks lucas piece lead leave police force betty breakdown dies heart attack leaving year truth illegitimate son revealed community discovers betty finds difficult face taking acquiring cat named extra betty builds relationship gordon occasionally particularly invite wedding betty youth club ends hospital broken arm leads reunion man fathered gordon unaware son existence visits betty hospital reading newspaper betty tell gordon decides preferring stir past anniversary day betty reunited wartime sweetheart billy marry months later gordon gives mother away live happily billy dies heart attack betty famous come scrutiny early 1990s believed contaminated cleared wrongdoing discovered beer food responsible stomach betty acts lady alongside mayor wife interest fulfilling civic duties includes accompanying receive queen betty celebrates years working return party attended regulars considers retiring briefly moves gordon wife caroline feeling caroline want betty considers moving retirement home convinced stay close friend emily bishop time betty anniversary return sacked new manager poppy occasions landlord eventually tires poppy poor treatment staff fires betty plays fairy return christmas performance early february betty party celebrating birthday fact oldest year old june crashes party claims oldest betty later sick steve serves month old betty steve left terrified realise kill later recovers crash december betty husband crushed death rubble betty seen trying vain stop david coming bar speak betty mentioned referred characters subsequent absence explained february asks betty replies betty bit weather april emily arrange visit betty meet gordon agreed drive gordon arrive brings unexpected news betty died peacefully sleep night residents street gather return hold impromptu memorial betty old friends gordon emily decides mother buried initially contemplating london later revealed annie walker left return betty betty acted gordon assured interested pub remain possession despite street longest serving characters funeral held screen wake lock hung photo betty wall return remember photo sadly destroyed return fire started following refurbishment managed obtain identical copy remains hanging wall place personality book women coronation street describes betty mother figure compares coronation street original characters warm loves cats share little notes life betty sharp blessed insight wisdom discussing evolving characterisation little writes hasn incarnation arrived street loud vicious gossip betty life food playing brings competitive enjoys beating male customers frequently protests betty attempts diet prefers comfortable figure ultimately betty stops trying lose weight stating chose sic losing pounds losing marital partner wanted marry rabbit married betty breaks dies heart attack little noting force betty life relied heavily job friends couldn face life home little observed betty finely tuned sense right wrong afraid stand beliefs citing betty shock calling report female neighbour children left outside nightfall mother entertained boyfriend driver discussed character saying coronation street characters tend fit camps drama drama life background famous betty falls group moments drama intrigue romance presence bar cutting pieces lamb potato viewers asked betty sharp tongue driver suggested sharp betty straightforward nasty anybody doesn suffer return betty longest serving soap public house return served bar shown work years brief breaks storylines led character fired post fired accused theft quit post jack took summer betty sacked temporarily manager insider sun betty written stating long time come bar change storyline aired february betty years old named manchester oldest plot twist year old rival came forward resulting betty fearing killed rival month old reception itv describe betty soap opera stating coronation street stones executive producer suggested characters betty essential ingredients like big clock park elaborated opinion betty left serial producer saying don mean people like plays ornaments probably hold major storyline character longest serving british soap coming survey assessing character episode appearances coronation street history betty celebrating years screen daily_mail praised character changing style years favourite fixture coronation street remained exactly set hair comfortable manner brilliant smile advice course celebrated return generation commenting 30th anniversary said amazing years suppose counted time enjoy looking forward wonderful experience feel glad able stick long coronation street bosses told sun newspaper plans retire character betty despite actress time oldest cast member soap character described highly valued executive producer saying going strong enjoying role betty street great traditional characters forever aim great mix contemporary stories older traditional characters comedy tragedy combined clever writing trademark street actor played soap deemed betty coronation street best characters alongside explained plays betty couple lines scene steal actors comedy reaction simple fantastic driver awarded lifetime achievement award honour role betty time featured coronation street years illness driver unable collect award person recorded video message itv betty time coronation street character synonymous signature dish betty itv described dish stuff legends pie manufacturer holland launched real life range based dish called betty kitchen idea range originated firm marketing director explained brought coronation street joined holland year ago right betty day added excited betty kitchen products holland strong northern brand mass market appeal honest values said street book product range example company form product placement stealth advertising writing viewers don realize effect watching advertisement said range launch institution proud reputation good food think lovely idea people able buy driver discussed general level interest character cruise weeks ago asking day served hot pot menu thought editor selected join wealth commission researching effects food poor health writing scathing column suggested commission chairman chief executive set good example coronation street banning betty october year allegedly world biggest lancashire created based betty traditional recipe coronation street cooked specially crafted tin weighing saw betty come scrutiny soap street resident suffered heart attack jerry wife blamed meat betty local butcher suggested meat coming new alternative betty outrage despite character skill driver claims couldn cook save life media straight video coronation street spin film released featuring betty entitled women coronation street featured clips famous females video hailed brief return coronation street favourite seen soap betty travelled meet new home spokesperson commented shows happens goes visit home cleaning work doctor died left house gratitude fans want
Betty Williams (Coronation Street)