Patricia Routledge is a national treasure these days, thanks to her roles in Keeping Up Appearances (as Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "Bouquet") and Hetty Wainthrop Investigates.

Back in 1961, when Coronation Street was young and monochrome, Patricia Routledge appeared briefly as Sylvia Snape. She ran a cafe in Rosamund Street, thus preceding Dawson's by 17 years. It sounds a bit of a happening place, too, according to Daran Little in The Coronation Street Story, who says, "She employed Doreen Lostock to serve Teddy Boys with frothy coffee."

Sylvia and her husband sold the cafe to an Italian man, Mario Bonarti, and it became a restaurant serving what Ena Sharples called "Italian muck." The Snapes moved away, and that was the end of Patricia's brief spell in the Street.

Have a look at this YouTube video, and then click the Continue Reading link to find out what it's got to do with Coronation Street.

There aren't many Coronation Street actors who've represented Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest. In fact there may only be one - Michael Ball.

The multi-talented actor and singer has starred in London and Broadway in such massive theatrical successes as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, and is currently appearing in the musical Hairspray in London. But in 1985 he made two appearances in Corrie.

He played Malcolm Nuttall, the posh tennis-playing boyfriend of one Michelle Robinson (played by Stephanie Tague). Malcolm had a love rival in the form of Kevin Webster, who at the time was sporting a moustache and lodging with Hilda Ogden. Kevin saw off the threat of Malcolm and he and Michelle briefly became an item.

Craggy faced actor Michael Elphick, who died in 2002, was best known for his portrayal of firefighter-turned-freelance troubleshooter Boon in the series of the same name, which ran from 1986 to 1992.

One of Elphick's earliest television appearances was in Coronation Street in 1974. He played Douglas Wormold, a property developer who wanted to replace the famous brick terraces with a high-rise block. Len Fairclough and Alf Roberts both knew of this scheme, but Len was keeping quiet, hoping to make a profit from the sale of his house (no 9) and yard, and also the Kabin. Rita, however, refused to sell the Kabin, and as it was in her name that was that. When the rest of the Street's residents got wind of what was being proposed, they formed an action group - Emily Bishop even threw a brick through Len's window when he refused to join!

Who'd have thought that Gandhi once trod the famous Weatherfield cobbles!

Sir Ben Kingsley, who won the Academy Award for his portrayal of the Indian spiritual and political leader, had a part in Coronation Street in 1966. He played Ron Jenkins, who chatted up Irma Barlow (the wife of Ken's brother David) while she was out at the cinema with Valerie, Ken's first wife. Irma encouraged his attention, but when Ron stole her compact and refused to give it back until she agreed to a date, the only way she could get rid of him was to introduce him to her husband and face the consequences.

No, it's not Elsie Tanner on the right of this picture, it's the very wonderful Sue Johnston. The star of The Royle Family and Brookside played Pat Phoenix in the play The Things You Do For Love, along with Denise Black (Corrie's Denise Osbourne).

But Sue Johnston has another Corrie connection - in 1982 she made a guest appearance in Coronation Street as "Mrs Chadwick." She was the bookie's wife, and Fred Gee loaned Annie Walker's car to her in order to write off an £85 debt. When she left her gold lighter in the car, Annie assumed that Fred had got a high-class girlfriend!

You wouldn't believe the ramshackle hippy pictured on the left is the same person as the fine, upstanding Judge John Deed, would you? Martin Shaw, who became a household name in the 70s and 80s for his role (and his perm) as Ray Doyle in The Professionals, appeared in Coronation Street in 1968 as Robert Croft. He was the leader of a group of hippies who made no 11 Coronation Street into a commune, where he turned the head of a young and impressionable Lucille Hewitt.

The very beautiful Richard Beckinsale, star of two of the greatest sitcoms ever made, Porridge and Rising Damp, had his first television role on Coronation Street, way back in 1969.

Beckinsale played the part of PC Wilcox, who had to arrest Ena Sharples (brave man!) during a sit-in she had organised against plans to demolish the pensioners' club room to make way for a car park. At the time he had fashionably long hair, which he wore in a hair net under his policeman's helmet. Ena Sharples was, of course, famous for her ever-present hair net, but I doubt she'd have approved of an officer of the law wearing one!

The tiny role in Corrie led to greater things for Beckinsale.

The final forgotten character this week made two short appearances in Coronation Street that were fifteen years apart. Sharon Gaskell, played by Tracie Bennett, was fostered by Len and Rita on a temporary basis in March 1982, while long-term foster home was found for her. Sharon was a frank and straight from the shoulder, with a love of football and woodwork. After last being seen in 1984, she popped up again in 1999.

Click below as we explore Sharon's life on Coronation Street.

With today's forgotten character, we take a swoop from 1997's Zoe Tattersall back to the 1970s, as we survey the life of the vivacious and chirpy Edna Gee, played by Mavis Rogerson. Edna was a working girl and first appeared in 1971 when she took a job at the newly built mailorder warehouse. Unfortunately Edna Gee is one of those Coronation Street characters that didn't really 'do' much. Today people would complain: 'give her a storyline', but regrettably Mavis Rogerson's only major story involved the character's death.

Click below to read a little bit more about Edna Gee.

After struggling to find some decent photographs of Zoe Tattersall this morning, the blessed YouTube has brought me some relief. We can bring you an entire episode featuring Zoe. This is the episode where she sets fire to Shannon's pram. Click below for the second part.

This Coronation Street character seems to be so forgotten about that I am able to find only one decent photograph, oh'eck! After some contradictory statements in yesterday's forgotten character blog, I do hope that today's follows a more accurate path! Joanne Frogatt made her first appearance as the ever-troubled Zoe Tattersall in 1997, which we all know as a time of massive change for Corrie and Zoe seemed to be central to Brian Park's idea of 'dragging Corrie up-to-date'. The young girl's myriad of problems burgeoned and eventually overflowed into the lives of many Street residents. Affected most was the whittering Ashley Peacock, who never seems to escape from severely disturbed women.

Click below to read more about one of Coronation Street's most troubled teens.

I really enjoy writing about our forgotten Coronation Street characters, aren't they fascinating? After focusing on Irma Barlow yesterday, we again find ourselves at the corner shop as we explore the lives of Sheila Birtles and Doreen Lostock. When they first appeared in 1961, Eileen Mayers (Sheila) and Angela Crow (Doreen) played characters who had no names, with scripts referring to them as 'the Barm Cake girls'. The girls became popular with viewers and the characters were developed.

Click below to read about two of the most significant characters in Corrie history.

This week Corrieblog welcomes back our forgotten characters feature, where we'll explore five of Coronation Street's neglected characters from the past. Today's character under the spotlight is Irma Barlow, née Ogden, played by Sandra Gough. The fun-loving Irma first appeared on Coronation Street in January of 1964 and by the time her parents Stan and Hilda appeared in July, Irma had already made her presence known in the street. The eldest of the Ogden children had left home when she was fifteen to escape Stan's violence, and changed her name from Freda to the more glamourous Irma. [Ben]

Click below to read more about Irma's time on the Street.

Did you know that Ernest Bishop had a "nom de plume"? He used the name Gordon Bishop professionally in his early days as a photographer. We first spied his bespectacled face at the wedding of Elsie and Steve Tanner in 1967. A few years later, he met Emily Nugent at his mother's funeral and a love story with a tragic end began.

Everyone thinks of Ernie as shy and somewhat nerdy. Indeed, his looks and personal style might indicate a certain awkward relationship with fashion and the hip lifestyle of the swinging 60s and 70s. But, beneath the cardigan was a man of passion, risk and artisitc talent and temperment. Read on through the link to discover Ernest Bishop's hidden depths!

Isn't it a coincidence that most of the forgotten characters that Corrieblog readers listed are related to the corner shop in some way? We've already explored the lives of Norma Ford and the Hopkins family, and other suggestions included Maggie Clegg, Irma Barlow, Renee Roberts and today's forgotten resident, Lionel Petty.

Unfortunately there's not all that much to say about Lionel Petty, so the ending to our week of forgotten characters is a bit short. [Ben]

Click below to read more about the owner of the corner shop from 1965-1966

Today I thought that I would hit four Coronation Street characters with one stone and delve into the history of the Hopkinses. The family moved into Coronation Street in 1974 when they agreed to rent the corner shop from Gordon Clegg after his mother, Maggie, moved to Zaire. At the head of the family (in all but name) was Idriss Hopkins, but the real boss was his mother, Megan, who was often referred to as 'Granny'. Idriss was married to a local woman, Vera, played by Kathy Staff, and the couple had a daughter, Tricia. [Ben]

Click below to learn more about Coronation Street's Hopkins family.

Dave Smith is a name that I think most Coronation Street viewers have heard or know vaguely, but like Norma Ford and to some extent Des Barnes, he is forgotten about. The character is often described as being a precursor to Mike Baldwin, yet while Baldwin had a distinct human edge, Smith was staunchly selfish with no let-up. Cockney Smith was played intermittently by Reginald Marsh from 1962 until 1976 and was arguably Corrie's longest-standing villain.

Click below for more about Dave Smith, today's forgotten character.

Des Barnes, like Norma Ford, is another one of Coronation Street's great characters that is sometimes forgotten about. Des is a relatively modern character, yet he failed to make neither the Corrieblog Top 50, nor the Unsung Heroes lists! Des arrived on the Street in February 1990 with his new wife Steph and the couple were quickly branded as 'Yuppie's by the British media. They moved into No.6, Coronation Street's very own house of horrors and Des's 8-year story began.

Click through below to learn more about Des, today's forgotten character.

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.

Some Coronation Street characters tend to get forgotten about completely, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s. I thought I'd do a little daily feature for a week as a bit of an extension of the Unsung Heroes feature that we Corrblogged a couple of months back. Some characters aren't necessarily unsung heroes, but they all make an impact on the show in some way or another. I already have a few ideas up my sleeves, but if there are any Corrie characters that Corrieblog readers would like to see featured then please leave a comment and let us know! [Ben]

David Liddiment became Executive Producer of Coronation Street in 1988, taking over from the long reign of Bill Podmore. One of David's first actions was to have the Baldwin's Casuals factory and Community Centre demolished and ordered the construction of new houses, shops and businesses to try and bring the programme into the 1990s. The production methods of Corrie changed massively too, with a brand new studio, more location work and weekend filming. The actors were also shocked to hear that a third weekly episode would be shown on a Friday. David Liddiment gave Coronation Street a positive rebrand, unlike Brian Park. Viewers seemed to delight in the new-look programme that still retained its worldly charm while appearing modern and vibrant. David left his position in 1992 to become Head of Drama at ITV. [Elsie Tanner]

Like another of our behind-the-scenes heroes, Adele Rose, John Stevenson was one of Coronation Street's greatest writers and worked on the programme for almost thirty years. Between 1976 and 2000 John had was one of the most senior members of the Corrie script team but suddenly quit after citing differences with then producer Jane Macnaught. By the time of his resignation he had written 374 scripts, including the infamous two-hander between Curly and Raquel. The great news for Corrie came when Jane McNaught was moved to another Granada department and John returned to his position as senior writer. In 2005 John won the 'Special Achievement Award' at the British Soap Awards and announced his retirement from Coronation Street soon after. In the same way as Daran Little, I feel that John's touches to some scripts are very much missed but at least he went out on a high! [Elsie Tanner]

Prepare for controversy. Is Brian Park still a villain or have ten years allowed the ravages that he bestowed on Coronation Street to be at all forgiven? As sentimental as we may want to be about Corrie, we cannot escape the fact that when Brian became producer in 1997 the programme was lagging in the ratings and had become staid with its characters and storylines. Did Brian Park have to take such a tough line with the Street and its characters and reduce it to what some viewers saw as an alien being? Click below read more about Brian "the axeman" Park. [Elsie Tanner]

We've all got a lot to thank Tony Warren for. I for one would be out of a job if he hadn't came up with the idea for Florizel Street all those years ago. Tony of course is the creator of Corrie and his rise to writing fame is script-worthy in itself; having struggled for a number of years writing for Granada serials such as Shadow Squad and Biggles, Tony was given one night to come up with a script that would "take Britain by storm" and he came up with Coronation Street. Tony had written a script in 1956 entitled Where No Birds Sing and he adapted this into Florizel Street. The change of name came about after an infamous comment by Agnes the tea lady. I would love for Tony to put pen to paper again and write the 50th anniversary episode in 2010, wouldn't you? [Elsie Tanner]