Affair of the heart
Marion McMullen on how a Corrie love triangle gripped the nation 40 years ago
AGONY aunts were quick to offer Deirdre Barlow their expert advice on how to save her marriage when it looked like she was about to ditch her life with boring hubby Ken in favour of her old flame Mike Baldwin. The TV affair was the first time a Coronation Street storyline had ever made it into national newspapers and it became one of the most explosive moments in the soap’s history.
A scandalised bishop warned “too much realism” could be a turnoff for fans of the show, but instead it led to bumper ratings.
Deirdre and Ken (William Roache) had barely been married a year when she was began a secret affair with her ex-lover .
Sunday Mirror agony aunt Claire Rayner advised Deirdre to “cool it”, adding “You won’t solve your boring marriage in someone else’s bed. Talk to your husband about the way you feel and by communicating properly for a change.”
The storyline kept viewers gripped for months as they waited to see what choice Deirdre would make in her “will she, won’t she” dilemma.
The question was answered in February 1983 when Deirdre and Ken were reconciled. The news was even flashed on the Old Trafford scoreboard at half-time during a match between Manchester United and Arsenal. Spectators cheered as they read “Ken 1 – Mike 0”.
It all came to a head when Mike begged Deirdre to leave Ken and stay with him instead. Deirdre confessed all to Ken and when Mike knocked on the door, he took a swing at him, while Deirdre sobbed in the doorway.
The episode was one of the highest-rated in the soap’s history and the doomed love triangle led to a long-running feud between Ken and Mike which lasted decades. Johnny Briggs, who played factory boss Mike, once said: “To this day I believe she chose the wrong man, but the writers got it right.”