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Vera Duckworth is a fictional character and primary protagonist of the British soap opera Coronation Street.
She was portrayed by the late Liz Dawn.
Biography[]
Vera Duckworth moved into Weatherfield in 1983 with her beloved husband Jack Duckworth and their troublesome son Terry.
Prior to her arrival, though, she was hired by local factory owner Mike Baldwin to work for him as one of her machinists. Soon enough Vera gained a reputation in the street for being gobby and a gossip which irritated the street residents on various occasions.
As time went on, it became clear that Vera and Jack had a tumultuous relationship. This was partially because they were constantly unfaithful to each other and it often led to the pair falling out but naturally ended with the couple making up with each other. However, another factor of their arguments was Terry due to his selfishness and the extent of his nefarious behaviour; Vera wanted to bail him out whenever he got in trouble while Jack would have preferred to wash their hands of him. Despite their constant bickering, however, the couple loved each other deeply.
In 1985, Terry dated Andrea Clayton and impregnated her. He offered her financial support but she rejected him and the family left to get away from the Duckworths, leaving them all devastated. A few years later Jack ran into Andrea's father Harry who told him the Duckworths would never have anything to do with Andrea's son Paul. He then attempted to spare Vera's feelings by lying that Paul had been given up for adoption.
In 1987, Vera and Jack were embarrassed by Terry when he fled the street with a married woman. In 1988, Mike was arrested for drunk driving which Vera delighted in due to her dislike for her boss. Mike assumed she had reported him and fired her out of spite despite Emily Bishop's attempts to appeal to his better nature. The real culprit Ida Clough came clean but Mike still refused to reinstate Vera. Mike was facing the industrial tribunal from Ida and cleverly told Vera he would only employ her again if she testified Ida was a troublemaker to which she agreed.
During this time, Vera became good friends with Ivy Brennan and was one of the few people who stood by her when her actions later in life alienated her family. She also took in fellow neighbour Curly Watts after he was kicked out by Alf Roberts as she felt sorry for him and Curly had previously been good friends with Terry. It was because of this that Curly became like a second son to her.
In 1990 Vera was left without a job after Mike sold the factory to Maurice Jones and left the girls all without redundancy pay. Vera then took part in pocketing the site with Emily and the others, getting Jones to pay them what they deserved.
In 1992 Terry returned with his pregnant girlfriend Lisa. It was then Jack and Vera had to look after Terry's son Tommy later on after Lisa was killed in a car crash whereas Terry ended up in prison. In the wake of Lisa's death her boyfriend Dess Barnes was treated incredibly coldly by the Duckworths, Vera especially due to her loyalty to Terry. Soon after being released Terry handed Tommy over to Lisa's parents The Hortons in exchange money causing Vera to be heartbroken and Jack to disown his son. Fortunately for them a sympathetic Des helped them come to an agreement with the Hortons over access which improved his relationship with them.
After Jack's brother Clifford died The Duckworths bought the Rovers Return which prompted Terry to return to get some money out of them. Terry quickly left but not before getting Tricia Armstrong pregnant with his third son Brad. Jack and Vera looked out for Tricia afterwards and treated her like family. Jack and Vera were cheated out of their share of the pub by Alec Gilroy who later attempted to throw them out over Christmas before selling the pub to Natalie Barnes.
In 1999 Tyrone Dobbs moved in with the Duckworths as a lodger and became more of a son to them than Terry ever was. In 2000 Andrea contacted the Duckworths, looking for Terry as Paul needed a kidney transplant. Terry was contacted but refused as there was nothing in it for him and Vera had to donate her kidney instead, almost dying in the process.
In 2001 Ken Barlow broke the news that Terry had been arrested for attempted murder. Despite everything he'd done Vera believed in his innocence and felt sorry for him while Jack was angry with him for his previous actions and hated how Vera supported him by visiting him in prison and getting the name of a good lawyer from Mike. Vera was shocked but grateful when she discovered Jack had decided to help Terry after all and they worked together to expose the cop who had framed Terry for attempted murder in retribution for Terry sleeping with his wife.
In 2008 Vera died abruptly over night putting an end to her and Jack's plans to move to Blackpool and devastating all of her family and friends.