Emily Bishop

Emily Bishop
Coronation Street character
File:Emily Bishop.jpg
Portrayed by	Eileen Derbyshire
Duration	1961–
First appearance	Episode 15 27 January 1961
Classification	Present; regular
Created by	Tony Warren
Introduced by	Stuart Latham (1961)
Spin-off appearances	The Life and Loves of Elsie Tanner (1987)
In-universe information Occupation Shop assistant Café waitress Charity shop manager Hospital chaplain Father James Nugent Mother Agnes Nugent Brothers Edgar Nugent Sisters Norah Seddon Brenda Nugent Joan Corrie Marjorie Nugent Husband Ernest Bishop (1972–78) Arnold Swain (1980–81) Nephews Spider Nugent Nieces Freda Burgess

Emily Bishop (also Nugent, Swain and known and credited in the early days of the show as Miss Nugent) is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Eileen Derbyshire, the character is the longest-standing female character in the series, having first appeared onscreen during an episode which aired on 27 January 1961. Derbyshire announced in November 2015 that she would be taking a break from the show, departing on 1 January 2016,

Storylines

Emily Bishop first moved to Weatherfield in the late 1940s from Harrogate to work for Leonard Swindley at the Glad Tidings Mission Hall. A very quiet and Christian woman, she hardly knew anyone up on the street except Ena Sharples the caretaker of the Mission Hall and the owners of the Corner Shop (Elsie Lappin and then Florrie Lindley). She eventually meets the residents of the street following a gas leak in January 1961 which forced them to stay the night at the Mission Hall. After that she soon becomes friends with many of the residents and became a pillar of the community.

Swindley soon ventures out becoming manager of the Rosamand Street branch of Gamma Garments, a clothing chain with Emily as his head assistant, their relationship becomes stronger and they decide to get married in 1964, however Leonard's pompousness and arrogance forces her to jilt him at the altar. A very moral woman, Emily prides herself on saving herself for marriage, but her resolve is eventually weakened and she begins a relationship with a Hungarian man called Miklos Zadic (Paul Stassino) in 1968. She later confides in her friend Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid) that she has no regrets about the encounter; Emily is, by that time, 39 years old and assumes it will be now or never. In 1969, with Miklos out of the picture, Emily falls in love with mild-mannered Ernest Bishop (Stephen Hancock) after meeting him at his mother's funeral. Their courtship is tested many times over and lasts for three years. In August 1971, they are engaged. The next year, Ernest is jailed in Majorca and subsequently freed, and it is at this time that they get married, broadcast across the UK on Easter Monday.

Despite rough patches, Emily and Ernest's marriage is relatively stable and they love each other very much. Emily miscarries in 1972 and starts menopause in 1974, dashing their chances of having a child of their own. This leads to many arguments between them, and they are forced to re-evaluate their marriage after just two years. They turn to short-term fostering to assuage Emily's need to connect with young children. Tragedy strikes when Ernest is shot and killed in a botched robbery in January 1978, leaving Emily devastated. Just as in years past, Emily only starts to heal from heartbreak by playing with a baby, namely Deirdre Langton's (Anne Kirkbride) infant daughter Tracy (Christabel Finch). To occupy her time, Emily becomes manageress of a café, with Gail Potter (Helen Worth) as her assistant. In 1980, when owners Jim and Alma Sedgewick (Amanda Barrie) make drastic changes to the food and service, Emily leaves and Alma takes over. In many respects, Emily has never let Ernest go but does marry again, to Arnold Swain (George Waring). He unfortunately turns out to be a bigamist. After she ends their relationship, he visits her and plans a murder-suicide. Emily tells him that God would not approve of what he is doing but Arnold insists she is wrong and goes upstairs to find a Bible. While he is gone, Emily runs outside for help. Arnold is sent to an institution where he dies ten months later. When factory boss Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) needs a new wages clerk, he turns to Emily and in May 1982, Emily starts working in the same job held by her husband at the time of his death.

In 1992, Emily has a mental breakdown. She can't remember appointments, becomes confused and her appearance suffers. Lodger Percy Sugden (Bill Waddington), protects her, covering up these very unusual actions. He becomes increasingly concerned about her behaviour and alerts Emily's friends and neighbours. One day, Emily disappears without a word. When friends and neighbours ignore Percy's call for help, he calls the police who find Emily wandering aimlessly, clearly having suffered a breakdown. When Emily has recovered enough to leave hospital, she tells Percy that he is a good friend, and thanks him for all he had done. Percy leaves No.3 in 1997 and moves into Mayfield Court — sheltered accommodation for the elderly.

In recent years, Emily has kept her moral resolve and is the Street's only churchgoer until young Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent). She falls in love once more, in 1994, with Bernard, a vicar. He breaks off the engagement when he finds out she had suffered a mental breakdown. Due to his past, he cannot not face the possibility of it recurring. Since then, Emily has sworn off love completely, pushing herself into more topical endeavours instead. In 1998, when her nephew Spider (Martin Hancock) arrives on the scene, Emily takes him in and they become fast friends as well as partners in saving the Red Rec from Alf Roberts' (Bryan Mosley) proposed plans for a "Millennium Bowl". Emily spends a night up in a tree standing by her convictions that the Red Rec is the last green space in Weatherfield and it deserves preservation.

In January 2003, Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), husband of Gail Platt, attempts to murder Emily for monetary reasons. He breaks in while she is watching television and babysitting for Ashley (Steven Arnold) and Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw). Richard knocks her unconscious with a crowbar but is interrupted by Maxine's early return. He attacks Maxine with the same weapon, killing her instantly. Emily makes a full recovery but suffers terrible guilt for surviving when Maxine didn't. In January 2004, she prevents a murder when grief-crazed Brenda Fearns (Julia Deakin) almost jumps off a forty-three foot church tower with youngster Bethany Platt (Amy & Emily Walton).

In 2006, Emily befriends Ed Jackson (Chris Walker), a new member of the congregation at her church. He soon becomes a regular visitor to her house, doing odd jobs and they remain friends after he confesses that he has recently been released from prison. However, Emily is devastated when Ed admits why he has been in prison—he was the man who shot and killed Ernest in 1978. He tells her that, after finding God while in prison, he has come looking for her, attempting to atone for his misdemeanours. Enraged, Emily throws him out, and goes on to question her faith. Eventually, on 10 March 2006, Emily forgives Ed as he contemplates suicide.

In August 2008, Norris (Malcolm Hebden) finds an envelope in Emily's drawer while looking to see what her PIN was when she has forgotten it. The envelope reads: "to be opened after my death". Norris tells Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) about it and she tells Emily about the situation so Emily agrees to tell Norris. She makes him promise not to tell anyone but it turns out that the envelope contains plans for her funeral. Norris discovers that this envelope isn't the one he has seen and tries hard to find out what really is in the envelope. It is revealed to be old photos of Rita from her singing days. In November 2008, Emily encounters Jed Stone (Kenneth Cope), a former resident of Coronation Street, when she is working at the canteen at Weatherfield General Hospital. She is amazed as it has been 40 years since she had last seen him. Taking pity on him as he has no home to go to, Emily invites him to come and lodge with her and Norris at Number 3. When Jed goes missing in December of that year Emily is worried as he has left his cap behind. When Maria Connor (Samia Ghadie) returns from holiday she is surprised to learn that Jed has disappeared as they both had believed Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) was a killer. After Maria accuses Tony of killing Jed both Maria and Emily are relieved when Jed turns up "unharmed" but Jed is really hiding marks on his neck from when Tony had strangled him. Emily is later upset to hear that Jed has suffered a second heart attack after he receives a visit from Tony's henchman.

In early 2009, Emily's storylines include her lodger Norris' girlfriend Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) calling around and cooking them international meals and parking her caravan outside their house, much to the annoyance of their neighbours. Later the same year, Norris' half-brother Ramsay Clegg (Andrew Sachs) arrives after their not seeing each other for 40 years. Emily tries to get Norris to forgive Ramsay before his return to Australia, and in doing so begins to fall for the man. She is very upset when he departs the Street in August 2009, and is later shocked when he dies suddenly on his flight. She condemns Norris for treating Ramsay in the cold manner that he did. Emily later forgives Norris for his treatment of Ramsay. In late 2009, Emily attends Sophie Webster's baptism and subsequently becomes quite close with the girl. Emily discovers a letter dating back from the 1960s to Ken Barlow (who at the time lived at number 3). It turns out to be from his ex-lover Susan. The letter also reveals that she had a child 9 months after he left her, who turns out to be Ken's estranged son Lawrence Cunningham (Linus Roache). In 2012, she took in Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) as lodgers in her front parlour, after they were made homeless by Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). However she kicks them out after Tracy deliberately ruins Ernest's pair of shoes believing them to be Norris'. In July 2015, Emily was saddened by the death of Deirdre Barlow and read a speech at her funeral. Emily was later opposed to Ken's new romance with Nessa Warner (Sadie Shimmin) in November 2015, and hesitantly told him of her thoughts. She later attended Gail's opening to her new granny-flat, where Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) drunkenly began discussing football with her and inviting her to watch a match. In December 2015, Emily told Norris of her ambition to do charity work in Peru and to see her nephew, Spider again. She had a flight booked for Peru but Norris did not want her to go. Norris eventually came round and Emily left on New Year's Day 2016.

Creation

Casting

In December 1960, actress Eileen Derbyshire was approached by Granada to play a part in the show, but the actress was tied up in a Christmas stage play. Of this Derbyshire said: "Four weeks after it started (airing) they said I could either wait until they introduced a new family into the programme or take the tiny part of a little, shy woman helper at the Mission Hall" going on to say "I have always been a fatalist, so I took the bird in one hand, not realising what a momentous decision I was making".

Background

An early image of Emily Bishop as she appeared in 1961.

The character of Emily was introduced when actress Eileen Derbyshire took on the role in Episode 15 on Friday, 27 January. At first, the character was simply called "Miss Nugent"; it wasn't until 1962 that she was given the name "Emily" by the show's writers. She continued to be credited on the programme as "Miss Nugent" until 1969.

Although rarely seen, the set of Emily's kitchen is the oldest surviving set. (The second oldest set is Ken's kitchen, with the famous avocado-green tiles.) All other sets have been redecorated at least once since we first saw Emily's kitchen. Emily's back room/parlour, however, was redecorated off screen. In the story a fire was caused by a candle left unattended by Spider and Toyah when they made their way upstairs after a romantic evening. Spider was able to track down matching wallpaper to cover up the fire damage so that Emily would not know what had happened, but in reality, the wallpaper was no longer obtainable, so the whole set was re-decorated in a very similar style. Emily has lived at No. 3 Coronation Street since 1972. It is mentioned that Emily is from Harrogate.

Development

In January 2009, a Coronation Street spokesperson denied claims that the character of Emily, along with other established actresses who portray characters Rita Sullivan and Betty Williams were axed by producer Kim Crowther in a bid to save money on salaries.

During an interview in 1991, Derbyshire spoke about her character's thirty years in the show, stating: "The writers have a tough enough task as it is, trying to find new storylines for a character who has been in the serial for three decades." Going on to say "I just get on with it. Emily has had a more colourful past than you might think. She has had lots of men friends and liaisons. In the early days, when they were stuck for something to do with her, I think the writers used to say 'Let's give Emily another boyfriend.' I've lost count of the number of men friends she has had".

Over the years, the character has proved her good neighbour image by taking in a number of lodgers, most notably Percy Sugden, Curly Watts, her nephew Spider, Rita Tanner and current lodger Norris Cole.

Departure

In November 2015, Coronation Street confirmed that Derbyshire had requested a six-month break with immediate effect, which she was granted. Derbyshire was one of four cast members to announce their temporary exit around the same time as Alison King who plays Carla Connor, David Neilson who plays Roy Cropper and Les Dennis who plays Michael Rodwell also announced that they would be temporarily departing. Derbyshire's exit scenes aired on 1 January 2016 in which Emily left the street to visit her nephew Spider (Martin Hancock). Derbyshire later extended her leave until the end of 2016 and it is unknown when or if she will return to the soap. In November 2016, it was reported that Derbyshire wouldn't be reprising the role. A source told The Sun that there was ‘no expectation that she will be back’. They went on to say: "All of her cast mates have accepted she won’t be returning. She’s 85 and has been out of the show for a year, so she probably would have found it tough to get back into the fast pace of filming." However a spokesperson later said the door is still open for her when she is ready, saying: "Eileen is taking an extended break, and has given no indication that she doesn’t plan to return."

Reception

In 2001, a storyline involving Emily lending her nephew Spider £15,000 for a new business venture was criticised for not being authentic. Journalist Tony Bridgland writing for the Telegraph said of the plot; "It is beginning to look as though Coronation Street's researchers failed to do enough homework to make their plot watertight." The Guardian compiled a list of ten favourite Christmas moments from soap; on the list was the 2002 Christmas episode where Richard Hillman came close to suffocating Emily with a pillow as she slept.

Discussing the scene where Emily was attacked by Richard Hillman in 2003, critic Chris Diamond wryly commented: "Surely Emily wouldn't be in the line of fire? Poor, drippy, sensible shoes Emily? But she was and the scene where Richard laid the blow on her was one of the most genuinely shocking things I have ever seen on television. I just couldn't believe my eyes. And that was where the genius of the episode lay. I knew Emily was going to get it. I saw Richard creeping up behind her and I was fully cognoscent of the fact that the crowbar in his hand was not for snagging her cardie. But I was sure that even at this point something was going to happen that would divert Richard from his target. When the blow actually fell I was utterly amazed."

Dek Hogan writing for media website Digital Spy in 2005 praised Eileen Derbyshire's comedic abilities; "the book club storyline doesn't exactly fill me with joy but does have the advantage of giving some fine comedic material to the underused talents of Eileen Derbyshire. As Emily Bishop she has shown a major flair for these scenes in the past." In 2006, writer Eve-Marie Wilson in an article criticised the plot which saw Emily forgiving her husband's killer: "...on Coronation Street recently, Emily Bishop was having a crisis of conscience, could she or couldn’t she forgive Ed, the man who had killed her husband all those years ago. After two or three episodes the matter was resolved. Had that incident occurred on a soap opera she’d still be undecided six months later!"

In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture commented that Emily is underused in storylines, but praised her stating: "Emily is one of those characters who seems to have always been around but rarely gets singled out for attention, yet she can be both funny and heartbreaking. She’s really stood out in her scenes this month and has been the only good thing about the Norris/Ramsay storyline of infinite tedium." In the book "Women and soap opera: a study of prime time soaps", Christine Geraghty describes Emily as being "shy, frightened of speaking out until roused, a spinster type whose complex marital history is seldom referred to".

Video and DVD references

• Coronation Street: The Early Days. Video. Granada Media Group, 2001.

External links

• Emily Bishop at itv.com
• WhatsOnTV Profile