Corrie's forgotten characters - Norma Ford

Norma Ford must be one of Coronation Street's most forgotten about characters, especially since there is always a song-and-dance made about her in most Corrie literature. In my eyes, the writings are perfectly justified as she was one of Coronation Street's classic women, yet very shortlived. Norma was created specially for actress Diana Davies and the character worked and lived in the corner shop as Maggie Clegg's assistant from May 1972 until November 1973. Norma can be summed up in a few words: resilient, affectionate, strong willed and unlucky in love.

Click below to read more about Norma Ford and her life on Coronation Street.

When Maggie Clegg advertised for a shop assistant, Norma was given the job and moved into the shop flat. Norma was an instant hit with viewers as she was, as Diana Davies describes it, 'common as muck'. In spite of her normality, Norma harboured a dark secret: her father was convict who had a very bad reputation with the local police and she had moved to the area to try and escape the stigma attached to having a criminal as a father.

Norma instantly made friends with her boss Maggie Clegg and decided to help Maggie to find a man by publishing a lonely-hearts ad in the local newspaper without Maggie knowing. Maggie was furious that Norma could do such a thing, but agreed to go on a date with one of the men who responded to the ad. This man turned out to be Ron Cooke, whom Maggie would later end up marrying and move to Zaire with.

In July of 1972, Norma's father, Jacko, was released from prison and turned up on her doorstep. Norma was horrified that her past had caught up with her, but was relieved when Maggie offered him a room at the shop and he was taken on as potman at the Rovers. Coronation Street put a lot of energy into the storyline involving Jacko and Norma, trying to show the difficulties that ex-convicts and their families had reintegrating into society. Betty Turpin, Maggie's sister, did not trust Jacko and she and Billy Walker set up a trap to catch him out. Billy hid some money underneath the telephone at the Rovers, knowing that Jacko would find it. When Jacko did find the money and worked out that it was a trap he resigned.

Norma's lovelife was disastrous to say the least. She immediately set her attention on the newly widowed Ken Barlow, who enjoyed her friendship but wouldn't take things further. Norma paid Ken to teach her about English Literature but was annoyed when Jerry Booth joined the class in the hope of Norma falling in love with him. Norma fussed around Ken and cooked and cleaned as he gallivanted around and enjoyed the bachelor life.
Norma's fondness for Ken now bordered on obsession and after he was turned down by Elaine Perkins (Joanna Lumley), Ken turned to Norma for comfort and solace. Norma was ecstatic when Ken kissed her and convinced herself that she would become the next Mrs Barlow, but Ken was just biding his time until he found someone else. That someone else happened to be a one Rita Littlewood. When Norma found out she was understandably devastated and angrily told Ken how selfish he was: 'You think of nothing but yourself, Ken Barlow!'

The viewers loved the relationship between Ken and Norma, and many were convinced that the pair would eventually marry. Even Bill Roache and Di Davies were pleased with the pairing, and went as far as suggesting to the Corrie bigwigs that if Ken were to marry again, then it should be to Norma. Of course, this did not happen. The writers suddenly decided to pair Ken with Janet Reid and married them quickly with little explanation.

Norma was completely destroyed by Ken's sudden marriage and hurriedly packed her bags and left Coronation Street to live with her father in the Oakhill area of Weatherfield who was working as a handyman for an affluent family.

Norma reappeared in 1974 at Maggie Clegg's wedding to Ron Cooke. The residents were shocked because Norma turned up with a sixty-year-old sugar daddy!

Like many Corrie characters, Norma's story started and ended in just over a year. We associate Coronation Street with long-standing characters, but not all have to be in the programme for decades to make an impact, as the story of Norma Ford seems to prove.