Oh - it wasn't Nicole Kidman or Glenda Jackson - she lives on a tugboat. Identify yourself you disgusting banana worshipper! When Albert Tatlock challenged Ena's assertion in 1978 that she had been drinking at the Rovers longer than he had been, Ena brought Lizzie in to verify her story. Blanche Hunt: Never happy unless she's got someone's hands round her throat. [Points at Deirdre] This one - she were in prison! Blanche Hunt: I'd cut off his whatnots wi' a pair of garden shears, me. Blanche Hunt: You want to get out more - wait 'till you try bingo - you'll hyperventilate. Ena's first drink at the Rovers Return was in 1918 with Lizzie Hinchcliffe. Rosie was the one who spotted it, she's so sharp - I should have asked her to do the proof- reading. Despite her occasionally antagonistic nature, Ena was a respected figure in the community and, although seeming at times to be a loner, had many friends in the street. In 1915, Ena became engaged to Phil Moss, nephew of Gladys Arkwright, her mentor at the Glad Tidings Mission Hall. Cilla Brown: You're calling at a very inconvenient time. Gail Potter: [Gail is on Eileen's doorstep arguing about the "torrid affair" she believes is going on between Eileen and the new foot masseur] His car was parked out here all night. Occupation It quickly became a permanent part of the character's apparel, added by Violet Carson, who refused to let the make-up department touch her elegantly-styled silver hair. She quit upon hearing the news and moved in with Minnie at No.5. Susan Cunningham: Don't let's bother about town. Violet Carson died on 26th December 1983. Robbie Sloane: [Robbie ties Hayley to a chair. Ian died after only two days and Alfred died in 1937 during the Depression, leaving Ena a widow with two children. Sarah Platt: [Moodily] It's not working, you know. The lawyers pay the woman off; sometimes uniformed guards accompany her to the elevators. No wonder some people emigrate. Ena Sharples (ne Schofield) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Violet Carson. 1969: Ena is distressed when Minnie goes missing. Her sister Alice, a few years older, often resented Ena's attempts at perfection. Grabs the side of the duct tape gagging her mouth] This might hurt. How could you? Is there some correlation between how boring you are and how much you drink? The final episode featuring Ena was broadcast on 2 April 1980. [talking about caf? And it will be. She was eventually offered her job back. Amber Kalirai: Not true! Maya Sharma: You don't want to get married! [deliberately knocks another load of tins and jars off the shelf]. [Blanche slams her front door shut and Frankie looks through the letterbox]. 1 note "Oh, lovely. Cilla Brown: [after Roy has taken Chesney to the airport] You call the airport and I call the police, Hayley. But then I enjoy being with you. Large in stature and almost always dressed in a large double breasted coat and hairnet, Ena was strong-minded and argumentative, with opinions on everyone and everything and she wasn't afraid to voice any of them. 5. Although Violet Carson became synonymous with the role, she was not the only actress to play Ena - in the 1960 dry runs of Coronation Street, Nita Valerie and Nan Marriott-Watson played her. A fortnight in Blackpool: chip shops, stink of onions, lights, some imbecile sideshows, a dirty great concrete fairground and they're happy. Vera Duckworth: No, But I will be 10 minutes after I get you home! Ken Barlow: [Beat as Ken realises what he's been saying] I am. Ena jumped at the chance to go abroad for the first time and meet the family she never knew she had. One of the main characters during the 1960s, she was featured less regularly in the 1970s due to the declining health of actress Violet Carson, and was written out in 1980. She won't hear you - she's as deaf as a post! In 1975, Ena began to make much more frequent visits to the street but often found that Minnie was away in Whaley Bridge, visiting their old friend Handel Gartside. Fiz Brown: I bet I know why you're back: to have your buttons sewn on! Now, scream. Ena was offered a place at an old people's nursing home, which she unsurprisingly declined, choosing to lodge with her old friend Henry Foster at St. Annes after briefly living with Minnie; nevertheless when the maisonettes were built Ena moved into No.6, a purpose-built OAP ground floor flat. She just sat up, broke wind, and died. Ena particularly criticised Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix), who she believed had loose morals. Tracy Preston: You touch me with that, I'll sue for criminal injuries, together with child support from him. Respected by all and feared by many, Ena was the self-appointed moral guardian of Coronation Street. I'll try not to be in the way, so take care of me from now on." Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. Sibling(s) Robbie Sloane: Sshh. During her school days Ena met Martha Hartley (Lynne Carol) and Minnie Carlton (Margot Bryant), establishing lifelong friendships. [Violet is recounting Fred and Bev's furtive early-morning goodbye]. She appeared in the first-ever episode, broadcast on 9 December 1960, and stayed with the show until 2 April 1980. Alice Raybould Tom Schofield Valerie Tatlock: Well what's wrong with it? Still unhappy with the working conditions, however, Ena walked out of the job later in the year and moved in with Minnie, with Albert Tatlock briefly taking on the caretaker position. In 1969, Ena became bored with the maisonette and moved into a flat above Ernest Bishop's (Stephen Hancock) camera shop. Later in the 1970s, Ena alternated between Weatherfield and St. Anne's. Carla breathes heavily through her gag, terrified]. Ena Sharples: Oh, lovely. However he enlisted for military service in the Great War and was killed in battle, devastating Ena. 9. In a book written about Women and Soap Opera, Ena was described as "brusque and uncompromising, refusing to adjust to the changing times". However, her health remained a point of contention. There was an instant chemistry, but Ena was upset to learn he was already married and broke contact with him. Albert Tatlock was foisted on her as "co-caretaker", though she insisted on being called "senior caretaker". Jack Duckworth: [after he sees through Vera's disguise] You're no flamin' widow! "Coronation Street" Episode #1.2 (TV Episode 1960) Violet Carson as Ena Sharples. Duration Check-in Add. Ena and Minnie lived with each other at No.5 several times, usually when no one else was willing to house Ena, who was reputedly difficult to live with. As caretaker of the Mission of Glad Tidings, it was her responsibility to act in the best interests of the Mission's constituency, as her behaviour in public reflected on them. Marcus Dent: I was talking about her heart. In 1980, Ena dumped herself on Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) and later Albert, while the flat was being re-decorated. Carla can't resist having a dig at Peter Barlow. To offset her money problems Ena took on the job of live-in housekeeper at No.9 for Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson) although, when the Community Centre at the Mission closed down, Ena moved back into the vestry. Ena jumped at the chance to go abroad for the first time and meet the family she never knew she had. Ena refused to attend Vera's wedding, although she sent her daughter a Christmas card. Valerie Tatlock: What are you talking about? When not at the Mission, she could usually be found in the snug of the Rovers Return, where she and her lifelong friends and fellow widows Minnie Caldwell and Martha Longhurst spent their time discussing the latest goings-on in the Street over milk stouts. Tracy Preston: As opposed to just screwing people! In 1977, Councillor Tattersall was aghast at the management of the Centre, run as it was by two elderly pensioners. Carson stayed with the show until 2 April 1980. Unique 121. Ena Quotes At this time Ena thought to herself that in some way Elsie reminded her of her younger self. She can scream as loud as she likes. Later in the year, while Ena and most of the street residents were attending the wedding of Jerry Booth and Myra Dickinson, Michael broke into the vestry and robbed it, taking or trashing most of Ena's most treasured possessions. T-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and m. 4 ENA quotes In March of 1963 her sister Alice Raybould died aged 80. The fight spilled out into the Street and Ena ended up accidentally smashing one of No.11's windows with her handbag. In 1967, Ena started a petition to have the betting shop closed down, although she was unsuccessful. Les Battersby: [eating a turkey he had run over earlier] This is Champion Turkey, this! It's going to cost another 300 quid to get it fixed, but I figure only bright spots like Rosie would notice and she's probably going to be your accountant in a few years' time and with you being so busy I'm going to have to start coming into the office and doing your admin full time, but don't worry Kevin I'm not expecting any wages, 'cos you'll still be in charge of the lads, and you do what you're good at, and I'll do what I'm good at, and Rosie can go to Oak Hill, the apostrophe can stay where it is because in a way it's all fate, isn't it? *Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Despite her willingness to gossip about the sordid details of her residents, Ena was very guarded about her own private life and resented Martha for discussing her health problems with Vera. The first reference to her was made in the 1985 spin off video 'The Jubilee Years' when Ken Barlow revealed that Ena had "died a couple of years ago". In the 1970s, her failing health meaning that Ena spent increasing amounts of time convalescing at her friend Henry Foster's in St Annes. [Robbie leaves Carla tied to a chair in an empty room. If only they could want a bit more. Ena feared for her home until she discovered she had been left No.11 Coronation Street in the will of the recently deceased owner, Mrs. Briggs. Deirdre Barlow: She's a very negative person. Hayley Cropper: Where did you come from? Violet Helen Carson, OBE (1 September 1898 - 26 December 1983) was a British actress of radio, stage and television, and a singer and pianist, who had a long and celebrated career as an actress and performer during the early days of BBC Radio, and during the last two decades of her life as the matronly Christian widow, town gossip and elderly battle-axe Ena Sharples in the ITV television . Gail Potter: Oh here's the other one the rest of The Village People! Rita Littlewood: [about Norris's secret book] The hero of his novel has got himself caught up in a menage-a-trois! Although motivated by self-interest more often than she would care to admit, Ena's usual justification was that she was acting in the name of Christianity. Tony Gordon: Don't worry. Emily Nugent: I'm quite capable of deciding for myself what I can or can not do! Fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, "An addict's appreciation of Coronation Street", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ena_Sharples&oldid=1141548360, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 16:33. Sean Tully: Think think. In 1969, Ena's capacity to interfere almost ended in tragedy when she told off bookie Dave Smith for hassling Minnie, who had been gambling and owed Dave money. Scream! With Glad Tidings gone, the closest place of worship was the Victoria Street Mission, and Ena kept close tabs on the comings and goings there. Coronation Street - Clip 10 - Martha, Ena and Minnie 17,721 views Jan 8, 2010 Minnie Caldwell (Margot Bryant) along with Martha Longhurst (Lynne Carol) and Ena Sharples (Violet Carsen). Naughty! Eileen Grimshaw: Yeah, and Sarah's been through half the lads in Weatherfield. Gail Platt: Again? Unfortunately all subsequent storylines involving Ena had to be scrapped owing to Carson being too ill to appear, due to the symptoms of pernicious anemia. TV Shows. In 1976, she made known her disapproval of new Corner Shop owner Renee Bradshaw's decision to open the shop on a Sunday, the day of the Sabbath. Ena was prone to hay fever. Stout - Milk / Sweet. "I'm Mrs Sharples." However, Ena's age and ability to do the work was a constant concern to the Council. It's all about image these days. As Ena barely got along with its current resident, Elsie Tanner, she had no compunctions about evicting Elsie and her son Dennis so that she could live there herself when the Mission was closed. She was delighted in 1970 to meet young Tony Parsons (David Hill), who shared her passion for the harmonium. Ena berated Martha's daughter Lily for never caring about her mother unless she needed a babysitter. Swindley was forced to re-hire her when a suitable replacement could not be found (Ena had bribed the other candidates to turn the job down). It's loaded. I Was Ena Sharples Father book. Alya fights for . Along with Minnie Caldwell, Martha Longhurst was Ena's closest friend and unlike Minnie, Martha shared Ena's penchant for gossiping. In 1989, Deirdre Barlow mentioned that "Ena Sharples will be turning in her grave" thus implying Ena has died by this time. Coronation Street Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Violet Wilson: [Chuckling] Does it really matter? "Passion meek - on the cheek. Your chest came flat-packed and you haven't put it together yet!