<P> Since 1960, Coronation Street has featured many characters whose popularity with viewers and critics has differed greatly . The original cast was created by Tony Warren, with the characters of Ena Sharples (Violet Carson), Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) and Annie Walker (Doris Speed) as central figures . These three women remained with the show for 20 years or more, and became archetypes of British soap opera, often being emulated by other serials . Ena was the street's busybody, battle - axe and self - proclaimed moral voice . Elsie was the tart with a heart, who was constantly hurt by men in the search for true love . Annie Walker, landlady of the Rovers Return Inn, had delusions of grandeur and saw herself as better than other residents of Coronation Street . </P> <P> Coronation Street became known for the portrayal of strong female characters, including original cast characters like Ena, Annie and Elsie, and Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander), who first appeared in 1964; who became household names during the 1960s . Warren's programme was largely matriarchal, which some commentators put down to the female - dominant environment in which he grew up . Consequently, the show has a long tradition of psychologically abused husbands, most famously Stan Ogden (Bernard Youens) and Jack Duckworth (Bill Tarmey), husbands of Hilda and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn), respectively . </P> <P> Ken Barlow (William Roache) entered the storyline as a young radical, reflecting the youth of 1960s Britain, where figures like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the model Twiggy were to reshape the concept of youthful rebellion . Though the rest of the original Barlow family were killed off before the end of the 1970s, Ken, who for 27 years was the only character from the first episode remaining, has remained the constant link throughout the entire series . In 2011, Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie), another character from the first episode, returned to Coronation Street after a 43 - year absence . Since 1984, Ken Barlow has been the show's only remaining original character . Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) had appeared in the series since late - January 1961, when the show was just weeks old, and was the show's longest - serving female character before she departed on 1 January 2016 . </P> <P> Stan and Hilda Ogden were introduced in 1964, with Hilda becoming one of the most famous British soap opera characters of all time . In a 1982 poll, she was voted fourth-most recognisable woman in Britain, after Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales . Hilda's best - known attributes were her pinny, hair curlers, and the "muriel" in her living room with three "flying" duck ornaments . Hilda Ogden's departure on Christmas Day 1987, remains the highest - rated episode of Coronation Street ever, with nearly 27,000,000 viewers . Stan Ogden had been killed off in 1984 following the death of actor Bernard Youens after a long illness which had restricted his appearances towards the end . </P>

Who is the longest running character in coronation street