<P> Coronation Street is a British television soap opera / serial, initially produced by Granada Television . Created by screenwriter Tony Warren, Coronation Street first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960 . The following is a list of characters introduced by Warren upon the series' inception, by order of first appearance . </P> <P> These characters included flame - haired siren and series first sex symbol Elsie Tanner (played by Patricia Phoenix), staunch up - tight battleaxe Ena Sharples, (played by Violet Carson), typically middle class town Mayor and publican landlady Annie Walker (played by Doris Speed) and grumpy war veteran Albert Tatlock (played by Jack Howarth) and university graduate Ken Barlow (played by William Roache) - all of whom would go on to star in the series for twenty years or more . Another long term character was Minnie Caldwell (played by Margot Bryant), who would remain with the series for 16 years and also in the original line - up was loveable rogue Dennis Tanner (played by Philip Lowrie), who is significant for his 43 - year gap between appearances . As of 2017, Roache is the only original character from 1960 remaining in the cast . </P> <P> Other significant characters to appear this year include Elsie Lappin (played by Maudie Edwards) the original owner of the Corner shop and most famous for speaking the first words on the show; Susan Cunningham (played by Patricia Shakesby), Ken's first girlfriend and the subject of a 2010 storyline in which it was discovered she had later given birth to his son; and May Hardman (played by Joan Heath), who became the first character to die in the series on 30 December . </P> <P> (portrayed by Pat Phoenix) </P>

Who spoke the first words in coronation street