Rita Littlewood
| Rita Tanner | |||||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Barbara Knox | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 1964, 1972– | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 415 2 December 1964 |
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| Introduced by |
Tim Aspinall (1964) Brian Armstrong (1972) |
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| Spin-off appearances |
Coronation Street: The Cruise (1995) Coronation Street: A Knights Tale (2010) Rita & Me (2014) |
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| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||
| Occupation | Businesswoman Newsagent |
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| Home | 10a Coronation Street | ||||||||||||
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| Father | Harold Littlewood |
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| Mother | Amy Littlewood |
| Husband |
Len Fairclough (1977–83) Ted Sullivan (1992) Dennis Tanner (2012–15) |
| Adoptive daughters | Jenny Bradley (foster) |
| Stepsons | Stanley Fairclough |
| Uncles | Sam Littlewood |
Rita Tanner (also Littlewood, Sullivan, Fairclough and Tanner) is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Barbara Knox, the character first appeared on screen on 2 December 1964 for one episode, the character returned full-time on 31 January 1972.
Stan Ogden (Bernard Youens) is taken with a young woman in the Rovers and buys her a drink, only for Dennis to step in when he recognises her - Rita Littlewood, a belly dancer who's appearing at the Viaduct Sporting Club. She can't find digs for the week and persuades a reluctant Dennis to let her sleep in Elsie's bed while she's away. Dennis worries what people will say about Rita staying with him. Miss Nugent calls on Dennis about panto rehearsals and is shocked to see Rita in her nightie. The next morning, Lucille wonders why Dennis is making up a breakfast tray. Dennis tells Rita of his disillusionment with showbusiness. Charlie slips on the joists in the loft and puts his foot through the ceiling of Elsie's room. He apologises to the figure in the bed and realises it isn't Elsie. Dennis pays for the hole to be repaired when Charlie blackmails him over Rita in the bed. Elsie returns to the house, sees the hole and hears about Rita. Rita then doesn't appear for another eight years.
In January 1972, Rita returns to the Street. Ken visits Rita. She accuses him of making Terry feel small by visiting her. He tells her he just wants Terry to do well as he’s a bright lad. Rita was living with Harry Bates, and his twelve-year-old son Terry. Mrs Bates wonders if Terry is poorly. Terry tells Ken that his mum has a sweet spot on him and asks to be put on the football team. It means him writing to Mrs Bates asking for Terry not to have household chores on a Saturday morning. Ken is worried about Terry and goes to Rita Bates's home as he thinks she had Terry running errands. He finds that's not the case. Rita is surprised when Ken tells her he is a widower and has children. Terry arrives home but leaves again when he hears Ken's voice. When Rita threatens to tell Terry's dad about him disappearing from the match, Terry threatens to tell him Rita is interested in Ken. Wilfred Perkins warns Ken about his involvement with Rita. Rita turns up at the Rovers. Terry Bates tells Rita about Perkins wanting to see her and she goes off to school. Rita fools around with Ken at the PTA to Wilfred Perkins' annoyance. Perkins warns Rita that gossip is not good for the school morale. She tells him to keep his nose out of her business; there's nothing between Ken and her. Rita leaves Bessie Street School and joins her date - Len, not Ken.
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