Episode 1048 (1st February 1971)

Episode 1048
Production code	P694/48
ITV transmission date	1st February 1971 (Monday)
Stories by	Harry Driver Esther Rose John Temple
Writer	Geoffrey Lancashire
Designer	Eugene Ferguson
Director	Carol Wilks
Producer	Leslie Duxbury
Navigation
Previous episode	27th January 1971
Next episode	3rd February 1971

PlotEdit

The firemen arrive to try to save Val. They have to drag Ken back from No.14. Val is rushed to the Infirmary but is dead on arrival - electrocuted by the faulty plug, as Len later relates to the residents. Ken breaks the news of Val's death to a devastated Albert. Lucille and Ray take Peter and Susan to Glasgow. No one knows how to help Ken. Mr Weaver of the Council tells Len that they have decided to demolish the maisonettes as the fire has exposed structural faults.

CastEdit

Regular castEdit

• Annie Walker - Doris Speed
• Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
• Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens
• Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
• Maggie Clegg - Irene Sutcliffe
• Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
• Ray Langton - Neville Buswell
• Kenneth Barlow - William Roache
• Billy Walker - Kenneth Farrington
• Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
• Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
• Irma Barlow - Sandra Gough
• Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
• Alan Howard - Alan Browning
• Betty Turpin - Betty Driver
• Susan Barlow - Wendy Jane Walker
• Peter Barlow - Christopher Dormer
• Valerie Barlow - Anne Reid (Voice-over only - see notes below)

Guest castEdit

• Handel Gartside - Harry Markham
• Divisional Officer - Derek Williams
• Station Officer - Terence Davies
• Mr Weaver - Alan Partington

PlacesEdit

• Coronation Street exterior
• Rovers Return Inn - Public, Snug, hallway and back room
• 1 Coronation Street - Hallway, back room, kitchen, bedroom and landing
• 14 Coronation Street - Living room, hallway and kitchen
• Corner Shop
• Unknown street
• Hospital entrance

NotesEdit

• Anne Reid as Valerie Barlow received a credit on the episode as she was heard in several scenes where Ken thinks back and remembers previous scenes in their marriage. These were taken from, among others, Episode 1043 (13th January 1971), Episode 1046 (25th January 1971) and Episode 1047 (27th January 1971).
• The Doctor who examines Val on her arrival by ambulance outside the hospital and an ambulance man who take her there are uncredited, even though they have lines of dialogue.
• Although ITV had begun full-colour transmissions on 15th November 1969, the ITV Colour Strike which began on 13th November 1970 caused this episode to be recorded in black and white.
• TV Times synopsis: Val is late for a party.
• Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 8,600,000 homes (joint 1st place with Episode 1049).

Notable dialogueEdit

Albert Tatlock: "I've had my life. I've had a good run. Why couldn't He have taken me 'stead of our Valerie?"

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Irma Barlow: "It's something to do with being born a Barlow, or marrying a Barlow... life seems to have it in for us."