Valerie Tatlock

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Valerie and Ken Barlow.

Valerie Tatlock (November 26, 1942- January 27, 1971) was a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was played by actress Anne Reid. The character was featured in the programme from 1961 until she was killed off in 1971.

Life

Valerie, a successful hairdresser, came into the picture in 1961 and caught the eye of Ken Barlow, a teacher at the nearby academy. She was not very attracted to him until his mother, Ida Barlow, was killed after being struck by a bus while returning home from work. Val, as she liked to be called, helped him deal with his mother's passing and soon they were dating. In 1962 Ken proposed to Valerie and she at first though he was just looking for a mother figure but he assured her that wasn't the case and she accepted.

On 4 August 1962 Ken and Valerie were married in Weatherfield. Ken had to sell his motorcycle to pay for their honeymoon in London. When they returned, the Barlows moved into No. 9 Coronation Street. Val turned the front room into a beauty parlor and started a successful business. In 1964 Valerie had a brief affair with one of Ken's teaching friends Dave Robbins, and planned to leave Ken, but Ken came after her and Dave was not in love enough to fight for her. Val was heartbroken and went back to Ken and begged him to take her back. He did and soon life went back to normal.

In July of 1964 Valerie learned she was going to have a baby and the hairdressing shop was closed in order to make it a nursery. Val gave birth, on 15 April,1965, to twins, a boy (Peter) and a girl (Susie). In 1966 Ken had an affair with a reporter, Jackie Marsh. Val found out but kept it a secret for two years, until 1968, when she used it to blackmail Ken into renting them one of the new flats built opposite the street. She treatened to leave him, but Ken gave in and they moved into No. 14.

Shortly after they moved in an escaped convict, Frank Riley, broke in and held Valerie at gunpoint. He demanded money and sex and threatened to kill the twins if she didn't comply. Val tried to resist but he grabbed her and started to rape her but the police broke in just in time. Riley was arrested and sent back to prison. Val was shook up and Ken was no support. No one believed her when she said Riley did not rape her. This nearly broke up Ken and Val, but they made up.

Death

In 1971, Ken was offered a teaching job in Jamaica. He accepted and he and Val prepared to move. On 27 January 1971, the gang on Coronation Street decided to throw them a going away party. While Ken waited for her in the Rovers Return (the local public house), Valerie tried to fix the plug to her hairdryer by tightening it with a screwdriver. Knowing it was still shoddy, she attempted to plug it in anyway, and was given a severe electric shock. As she fell to the floor she knocked a portable heater into a packing crate, which burned down the maisonette and killed her.

Family

Ken Barlow-Husband
Peter Barlow-Son
Susan Barlow-Daughter
Adam Barlow- Grandson
Alfred Tatlock-Father
Edith Tatlock-Mother
Albert Tatlock-Uncle
Beattie Tatlock-Cousin
Emily Bishop-Best Friend

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