Susan Barlow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wendy Jane Walker (1970–1974, 1985–1987)
Suzy Paterson (1979–1981)
Joanna Foster (2001)
- 1965–1971
- 1973–1974
- 1979–1981
- 1985–1987
- 2001
5 April 1965
11 February 2001
| Susan Barlow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Joanna Foster as Susan Barlow (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Katie Heanue (1965–1970) Wendy Jane Walker (1970–1974, 1985–1987) Suzy Paterson (1979–1981) Joanna Foster (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration |
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| First appearance | Episode 450 5 April 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 4983 11 February 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | H.V. Kershaw (1965) Eric Prytherch (1973, 1974) Bill Podmore (1979, 1981) John G. Temple (1985) Jane MacNaught (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Book appearances | Coronation Street: The Complete Saga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Wendy Jane Walker as Susan Barlow (1986) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Suzy Paterson as Susan Barlow (1981) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Susan Barlow (also Baldwin) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She made her debut screen appearance on 5 April 1965. Susan has been portrayed by four actresses since her introduction. Katie Heanue was the first actress to play the character, appearing sporadically in the 1960s uncredited. Wendy Jane Walker took over the role for 26 episodes between 1970 and 1971 and between 1973 and 1974. When the character returned, Suzy Paterson was recast in the role. She appeared in eight episodes from December 1979 until July 1981. Walker reprised the role on a permanent basis from October 1985 until November 1987. The fourth actress to play the role was Joanna Foster, who appeared in eight episodes in 2001 until the character was killed off. The character's final appearance was on 11 February 2001.
Katie Heanue played Susan as a baby and young child from 1965 until 1970 when Heannau and her family moved away from the Manchester area.[1] Child actress Wendy Jane Walker took over the role later in 1970.[2] Although Susan was written out in 1971, Walker made recurring appearances in 1973 and 1974. Suzy Patterson played Susan from 1979 to 1981 but only made a small number of appearances.[3] Walker took back the role in 1985 and Susan became a main character again before departing in 1987. Patterson had played the role with a strong Scots accent, whereas Walker did not. After a thirteen-year absence, Susan returned for a final time in early 2001, now played by Joanna Foster, which saw the character get killed off after introducing her secret son Adam.[3]
Development
In January 2001, the character returned to Coronation Street with actress Joanna Foster taking over the role.[4] Susan comes back to Weatherfield to introduce her son, Adam (Iain de Caestecker) to his grandfather, Ken (William Roache).[5] Rick Fulton of the Daily Record said Ken is "amazed, but also devastated" that Susan kept his grandson a secret for so long.[5] Adam's father is Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs), who Susan married in 1986.[5] Susan told Mike she had an abortion and he threw her out the following year. Fulton explained "But that will be exposed as a lie. It seems Susan, who had grown to hate her husband, didn't think Mike would be a fit father for her child. She decided she wanted to bring up the baby on her own without any of his influence."[5] The news rocks Ken and Mike, when they learn they are linked by Adam.[5] On 22 January 2001, Brian Roberts of the Daily Mirror reported Susan would be killed off in a car accident.[4] Her death would then kick-start a custody battle for her son, Adam, between her father and her ex-husband.[4] Roberts said Susan is "adamant" that she does not want Mike having anything to do with Adam and she decides to take him to Ireland. However, while they are on their way Susan crashes the car and dies.[4]