DEAR DEIRDRE
She caused the scandal of the 80s when she had a steamy affair with Mike Baldwin behind the back of her husband Ken Barlow. And Deirdre Barlow’s love life would hit the headlines once more in 90s soapland for very different reasons.
While Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) had convinced Ken to take her back, she later threw the teacher out when he had an affair with his secretary, Wendy Crozier.
The unlucky in love travel agent next fell for her holiday fling, Moroccan toyboy waiter Samir Rachid. The pair wed in 1994 but Samir died after a beating a year later.
Then three years on, Deirdre met dashing Jon Lindsay (Owen Aaronovitch) at a singles night. Lindsay was a charming airline pilot and the widow was smitten but suspicions were first raised by Ken, who spotted her new man working at Manchester Airport’s Tie’n’Fly shop.
Lindsay told Deirdre he had been forced to stop flying on medical grounds but Ken remained sceptical about “Captain
Lindsay”. The pretend pilot continued to be away for long periods, telling Deirdre he had been promoted to an executive position and was overseeing tie shop branches around the country.
In reality, the rogue was with his wife Linda and kids, with the unwitting women even coming face-to-face when Linda booked a holiday at the travel agents.
Despite everything, by December 1997, Lindsay and Deirdre were living together and making plans to wed. But when she made an unexpected trip to the airport one day, she was floored to find out her beau was married. Little did she know that was just the start – Lindsay had taken out a credit card in her name and used a false identity to secure a mortgage.
When the police caught up with the fraudster, he managed to pin the blame on Deirdre, who was jailed for 18 months for fraud. A national outcry followed and a campaign began to Free The Weatherfield One, with T-shirts and car stickers picturing Deirdre in the slammer.
Actor Aaron said: “People would watch it and see what was happening to her and get enraged by it.”
PM Tony Blair announced he would have Home Secretary Jack Straw look into Deirdre’s case. Tory leader William Hague agreed, saying: “The whole nation is deeply concerned about Deirdre.”
The gross miscarriage of justice was a winner in the ratings war with EastEnders.
Lindsay’s deception was uncovered when ex Mary Docherty came forward to reveal he had duped her too and Deirdre was freed in time to see him sent down.