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Effie Spicer

Maggie Cooke
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by Irene Sutcliffe
Duration 1968–1975
First appearance 1 April 1968
Episode 761
Last appearance 13 January 1975
Episode 1459
Introduced by Michael Cox (1968)
Susi Hush (1974)
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation Shop owner (1968-1974)
Morphine worker (1974–)
Home Zaire
Les Clegg
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by John Sharp
First appearance 1 April 1968
Episode 761
Last appearance 12 June 1968
Episode 782
Introduced by Michael Cox
Classification Former; guest
Gordon Clegg
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by Bill Kenwright (1968–1995, 2012)
Geoffrey Leesley (2002–2004)
Duration 1968–1969, 1974–1976, 1982, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2012
First appearance 15 April 1968
Episode 765
Last appearance 20 April 2012
Episode 7849
Introduced by Michael Cox (1968)
Susi Hush (1974, 1975)
Bill Podmore (1976, 1982)
Sue Pritchard (1995)
Jane MacNaught (2002)
Kieran Roberts (2004)
Phil Collinson (2012)
Classification Former; recurring
Profile
Home Wimbledon
Dickie Fleming
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by Nigel Humphries
Duration 1968–1970
First appearance 5 June 1968
Episode 780
Last appearance 6 May 1970
Episode 977
Introduced by Richard Doubleday
Classification Former; regular
Audrey Fleming
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by Gillian McCann
Duration 1968–1970
First appearance 5 June 1968
Episode 780
Last appearance 13 May 1970
Episode 979
Introduced by Richard Doubleday
Classification Former; regular

Margaret "Maggie" Cooke (née Preston, previously Clegg) is played by Irene Sutcliffe. She ran the Corner Shop from 1968 to 1974. Maggie's storylines included her life with alcoholic husband Les Clegg, who she divorced in 1969, a son Gordon who was not really hers (he was her sister, Betty Turpin's love child) and a further marriage to reformed alcoholic, Ron Cooke on 10 July 1974. She emigrated to Zaire after the wedding but made a brief return to the street in December of the same year when Gordon found out that Betty was his mother. She rejoined her husband the following month and has not returned to the street since. By 2003, she was still living in Zaire. In 2012, when her sister Betty died, Maggie was not present at the funeral, or even referred to. A photograph of her could be seen on the shelf in the background when Gordon, Emily, Rita and Stella went to Betty's house to sort through her belongings.

Les Clegg is played by John Sharp. He and his wife Maggie buy the Corner Shop from David Barlow in 1968. Les was an alcoholic, and this leads to the breakup of their marriage; Maggie divorces Les in 1970.

Gordon Clegg (né Preston), played by Bill Kenwright, made his first screen appearance on 15 April 1968. Kenwright played the role until 1995 and Geoffrey Leesley took over from 2002. On 31 January 2012, Sharon Marshall revealed Kenwright would reprise his role as Gordon for Betty Williams' funeral, which was held on 16 April.

In 1968, Les Clegg bought the Corner Shop and the Cleggs moved there, with Gordon living in the flat above the shop. Maggie wanted Gordon to focus on his studies and not work behind the counter so Maggie was dismayed when Gordon fell for young Lucille Hewitt. Lucille took some convincing to agree to go out with Gordon, as she thought he was too mothered by Maggie, but he impressed her when he fought for her attentions with Gary Strauss and Ray Langton. Gordon and Lucille faced Maggie's objections when Gordon decided to show Lucille that he was committed to her by suggesting that they elope to Gretna Green and return as husband and wife, even though it would mean missing his exams. He and Lucille went to the train station, without telling their families but when they missed their train, Lucille convinced him that they should return. Gordon passed his exams and began thinking about his career prospects. As Lucille pressed ahead with wedding preparations and set a date for Easter Saturday 1969, Gordon realised he could not marry her and cancelled the wedding at short notice. Ashamed of his actions, he took a job at the head office of an accountancy firm in London and upset Maggie by moving there permanently.


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