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Longest Running Soap Stars
LiverpoolFCGirl
Posts: 15,506 Forum Member
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Hi Everyone! 
Just thought we could discuss how long various soapstars have been in the soaps, who has been in longest, etc. I think Ken Barlows got the best record (hasn't he been in it since the start)? In regards to Corrie there's also Deirdre, Fred Elliot, the Platts and even Simon Gregson has been there a while now. For Eastenders at a guess I would say Dot has been there longest but I couldn't say for sure- I'm sure there are plenty of other people who have been there a while to.
As for the Aussie ones, I believe Sally/ Alf from h&a have been there longest whereas Lou and Harold have been in Neighbours a long time too.
I think it's an interesting topic. Is there anyone else anyone can think of (i'm sure i've missed plenty)? Also, which soap seems to be the best at hanging onto their stars. It seems easiest to say Corrie, but it's hard because it has obviously been running longest.
Just thought we could discuss how long various soapstars have been in the soaps, who has been in longest, etc. I think Ken Barlows got the best record (hasn't he been in it since the start)? In regards to Corrie there's also Deirdre, Fred Elliot, the Platts and even Simon Gregson has been there a while now. For Eastenders at a guess I would say Dot has been there longest but I couldn't say for sure- I'm sure there are plenty of other people who have been there a while to.
As for the Aussie ones, I believe Sally/ Alf from h&a have been there longest whereas Lou and Harold have been in Neighbours a long time too.
I think it's an interesting topic. Is there anyone else anyone can think of (i'm sure i've missed plenty)? Also, which soap seems to be the best at hanging onto their stars. It seems easiest to say Corrie, but it's hard because it has obviously been running longest.
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Don't forget Emily (1961), Rita (1964) and Betty (1969) .
In EE - I think Pauline and Ian have been there since day one with uninterupted runs, Dot did leave for a while, but is an original character, Sharon and Den are both also originals, but have obviously left for extended periods and returned at various times.
I'll add Hollyoaks into the mix - I think only Tony is left of the originals, although Mandy turned up not that long after it started.
Ken Barlow has been in Coronation Street since the first episode in 1960.
Next remaining cast member is Emily Bishop who first appeared just a couple of months after Ken, in 1961.
Rita first appeared in 1964, but did not become a regular until 1972.
Betty started in 1969.
Deirdre first appeared in 1972 and Tracy was born in 1977.
1974 saw the arrivals of Vera, Blanche and Gail.
Mike Baldwin first appeared in 1976.
In 1979, Jack and Audrey joined the cast.
Kevin Webster first appeared in 1983, along with Curly Watts, with Martin Platt and Sally Webster following in 1985 and 1986 respectively.
Simon Gregson first appeared as Steve in 1989, so he has been on the show for well over 10 years, nearly 15. Fred Elliott appeared in 1994.
What about Ian and Pauline then? Do we think they will end up being as loyal long servers as Ken/ Emily, etc, given the chance?
I think characters like Pauline Fowler (as Krycek says, an original), and some who turned up pretty much at the start (Pat Wicks was only a couple of years out, and whats a couple of years in continuity purposes?) who seem to be 'lifers' in the Square, are equatable to the Streets residents who stayed on the cobbles for pretty much twenty years (Elsie Tanner, Annie Walker). Some will stay forever (Beale, Barlow), many will fly by in no time (blink-and-you'll-Eddie-Royle), and a few will stay for a chunk of time (Ethel, Elsie).
I'd pretty much guarantee it, at least with Ian, he is truely the Ken Barlow of the Square - could he be anything else except Ian Beale? I do think he's a much under rated actor though, one of those you don't really realise how good he is, because he is so good. Wendy Richards? I think she knows which side her bread's buttered, I don't see her leaving except if she's pushed.
I also think Ian Beale is Eastenders equivelent of Ken Barlow. Why don't we make this a really friendly thread?
I didn't really watch Crossroads much either- was anyone in that for long?
Jimmy Corkhill was in there a while but he wasn't an original - although probably the longest serving cast member. From what I remember, and I could be very wrong here, but Sheila Grant was the last original to leave, she left with Billy Corkhill, Jimmy's brother. From my very sketchy memory, Jimmy only turned up after Billy had arrived in the close.
Helen Wagner has played Nancy Hughes on the US Soap 'As The World Turns' since its first episode on April 2, 1956.
I like your thinking
Quite a long time then! Is that continuous though? I just ask because someone said Ken Barlow was officially the longest runner.
Definatly, he's part of the fabric of the Square, he's one of those characters that you'd only miss once he was gone, he's a far better actor then ever given credit for. I actually think Wendy Richards is fairly apaulling 75% of the time as Pauline, someone like June Brown really shows how it should be done - she's a class act.
I think Brookie's longest cast member was Jimmy Corkhil, after him I think it was someone really unthinkable, like Katy Rogers.
Norman Painting aka Phil Archer beats Ken Barlow. The Archers started in 1950 and I'm pretty sure Norman Painting holds the world record for playing a soap character.
Neighbours: When Helen died, it was the last of the originals. Harold has been in it since about his first guest appearance in 1986, but he had a long break. Lou has officially been in it since 1992, but the first Loui was a guest appearance earlier on.
Sally and Alf have been in Home & Away since day one. Colleen was a guest character very early on and then became full only a few years ago. Fisher left quite a few months ago.
I know i'm in the minority, but I think Wendy Richard has been great on the show this year. She was overcast badly in the late 90s by then EP Matthew Robinson in favour of flashier, thinner, more lowest-common-denominator popularity characters like Steve and Mel Owen. But since the Fowlers regained their promenance in the Fowler/Mitchell War, I think Richard has got better and better. The comedy stuff this year with Dot, the emotional scenes at Mark's funeral, the nostalgic dialogue in the Disaster episode... I think she's, along with Dot and Pat, held the show together over the crappyness of 2004. June Brown shows her cards so well in this cancer story because she's supported by the best material the show can manage right now. Richard is often left to be the ferocious Lady of the Launderette, overshadowed by people who are given more flashy focus. But I only have to remember 'Frying Pans' and 'Strawberry Blonde at Seventy', as well as the consistent 80s Fowler based EE, to remember that she's probably the strongest emblem of "EastEnders" in the Square.
I think the show would loose pretty much everything that ties it back to its beginnings if she were gone. Long Live the Fowler!