Emily Bishop is a legend of Coronation Street having been on-screens for 55 years.
She left the ITV soap in 2016 for a break, but has never returned.
Where is Emily Bishop now and will she ever come back to Coronation Street?
Who was Emily Bishop in Coronation Street? How old is she?
Emily Bishop is the longest-standing female character on the cobbles. She first appeared as an uncredited actress during a walk-on scene on December 21 1960 and from January 1961 onwards was played by Eileen Derbyshire.
Emily was born on October 18 1929, which means she is now 96 years old.
She ran her own baby linen business at first, but then merged it with Swindley’s Emporium and became assistant to draper Leonard Swindley.
They agreed to marry in 1961, but she realised she didn’t love him and jilted him.
Emily had many other potential suitors, but it wasn’t until she was in her 40s that she finally met the man she would marry.
What happened to Emily’s husband?
Emily met the love of her life, Ernest Bishop in 1970.
He was a photographer and lay preacher, which suited religious Emily as he was often involved in Mission work as she was.
She and Ernest wed in 1972 after he returned from Spain where he had been arrested for photographing topless models!
After moving into No.3 Coronation Street, their marriage hit a rocky patch and Ernie went to the Marriage Guidance Bureau for advice. The couple decided to become foster parents hoping it would unite them.
Money troubles blighted them and Ernie was forced to close his camera shop and take a job as a wages clerk at Baldwin’s Casuals. Emily was working at the hospital and they soon found themselves living more comfortably.
But this happiness was cut short in January 1978.
Ernest was making up wage packets in the factory on January 9 and two men entered with a shotgun, demanding the factory’s petty cash. Ernie gave it to them, but Mike entered and knocked one of the gunmen, causing the weapon to go off and shoot Ernie in the chest.
Ernest died on the operating table.
Emily remained single and moved Deirdre Barlow and her daughter Tracy in after Deirdre’s first husband Ray Langton left her.
Together they started a business and through that Emily met Arnold Swain in 1980, who ended up proposing. He was later proved as a bigamist and Emily ended their marriage. He tried to convince her to join him in a suicide pact and ended up being sent to a psychiatric hospital.
Emily had several lodgers over the years including Curly Watts and Kevin Webster, and of course Norris Cole.
Who was her nephew?
In 1997 Emily’s nephew Geoffrey ‘Spider’ Nugent moved in with her.
He was an eco-warrior and his company delighted Emily.
She got involved in many of his campaigns, including climbing a tree and spending the night in it to stop it being cut down during one protest!
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