Liz McDonald

Liz McDonald
Coronation Street character
File:Liz McDonald.jpg Beverley Callard as Liz (2008)
Portrayed by	Beverley Callard
Duration	1989–98, 2000–01, 2003–11
First appearance	27 October 1989
Last appearance	14 April 2011
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson (1989) Jane MacNaught (2000) Kieran Roberts (2003)
Spin-off appearances	"East Street" (2010)
In-universe information Occupation Barmaid (1990–98, 2003–11) Pub landlady (2006–11) Father Willie Greenwood Husband Jim McDonald (1974–97, 2000–05) Vernon Tomlin (2007–08) Sons Steve McDonald Andy McDonald Daughters Katie McDonald Granddaughters Amy Barlow First cousins Donna

Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald (née Greenwood, previously Tomlin) was a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989. In 2006, the character became landlady of The Rover's Return after working there on and off since 1990. It was announced on 20 October 2010, that Callard had quit the role and Liz exited the soap on 14 April 2011.

Creation and development

Casting

Liz as she appeared in 1991.

In 1989, Beverley Callard was cast in the show as matriarch of the new McDonald family, after having previously played the part of June Dewhurst in 1984. Liz first appeared in October 1989 with her husband, ex-army sergeant Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson), and their twin sons Steve (Simon Gregson) and Andy (Nicholas Cochrane). Liz and Jim were married very young when Liz got pregnant with the twins at the age of 16. They have a stormy marriage, caused by his hot temper and her habit of playing away. Soon after arriving on the Street, Liz makes friends with Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), whose daughter Tracy (Dawn Acton) is slightly younger than the twins.

When asked in a 2010 interview with The Mirror what her favourite scenes were, Beverley Callard replied, "when Jim beat up Liz. I knew those scenes would have a huge impact. There were protests outside the studios and I had sacks of letters from battered wives. The scenes were so well written that one week viewers would have sympathy for Liz, the next Jim, then Liz. Opening those scripts gave me a buzz. And the viewing figures, 24 million, were massive."

Departure

On October 20, 2010 it was announced that Liz was to leave. Discussing her departure, Callard said "I've loved every minute of my second stint on the street - it's always a difficult decision to make the leap but I returned for the 40th, so leaving for the 50th feels like perfect timing. I'll miss everyone on the show but I'm looking forward to some new challenges and to see what life has to offer beyond Liz's famous mini skirts!

Producer Phil Collinson commented: "Bev has created an iconic and much-loved character in Liz. She will be greatly missed behind the bar of The Rovers by the viewers of the show. She's a lovely lady and is such a talented actress. We all wish her well in whatever she does next and we hope to see the character of Liz return sometime in the future. Plans are now being made for an exciting exit storyline for her departure next year."

In March 2011, rumors of Liz exit started, According to The Sun, poignant scenes on the ITV1 soap will see the landlady complete one final shift at her beloved pub before putting on her coat, walking to the door and taking in her surroundings for the last time as she turns off the lights. It is thought that bosses want the scenes to mirror the way iconic Rovers favourite Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) departed the cobbles in 1995.

After ex-husband Jim (Charles Lawson) staged an armed robbery at Weatherfield's building society. (He does so as part of a desperate attempt to raise funds in order to buy The Rovers.) His plan goes wrong, Jim is expected to be jailed for 10 years - leaving Liz heartbroken. She agrees to wait for him, but with little keeping her in Weatherfield and after reminising on good and bad times she decides to leaves the country without telling him or her family. She leaves for the air port with her last words being, 'Go for it'

Storylines

1989–2007

Liz first appears in 1989 with her husband, ex-army sergeant Jim (Charles Lawson), and their twin sons Steve (Simon Gregson) and Andy (Nicholas Cochrane). Liz and Jim, who wed on 5th January 1974, have a stormy marriage, caused by his hot temper and jealous rages. Soon after arriving on the Street, Liz makes friends with Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), whose daughter Tracy (Dawn Acton) is slightly younger than the twins. She delivers baby Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) on Christmas Eve 1990 in the back of Don Brennan (Geoffrey Hinsliff)'s taxi.

Liz works as a barmaid at the Rovers Return Inn for some time, and is delighted to be offered her own pub, the Queens, by Newton & Ridley. She does really well there, and is in her element. At this time, she is going through a bad patch with Jim and eventually leaves him, moving into the flat above the pub. She takes up with Des Barnes (Philip Middlemiss)'s brother Colin Barnes (Ian Embleton), who is also working at the pub. It always seems that the relationship means more to him than her.

Liz becomes pregnant in 1991, however due to stress caused by Steve being arrested due to one of his petty crimes in order to make more money family, Liz gives birth to a stillborn baby girl in early 1992 whom she names Katie. This is an emotional time for both Jim and Liz, and is something that will continue to haunt Liz for many years as she lost her only chance of having a daughter.

Liz gets a job at the bookies in 1995, because the owner, Sean Skinner (Terence Hillyer), fancies her. He thinks it is a pity the punters can't see her legs when she is working behind the counter. She leaves there after she and Des Barnes start becoming attracted to each other. It doesn't go further than a few kisses, but they both recognise the danger, and Liz wants to stay with Jim. However, Jim didn't believe her story of being sacked because they were over-staffed, especially when someone else was hired a few weeks later. She eventually admits the real reason and Jim flew into one of his rages. In early 1996, they were still trying to put this together when she revealed another incident on the way back from Jim's army reunion. This time, she'd slept with one of Jim's friends, way back in the days when he was in the army and she was left alone for long periods with just the twins for company. She'd found it too much and had finally given in to this guy who had been assiduously trying to seduce her for months.

Jim beats her and abandons her at the service station. She is left with nothing, and has to hitch a lift back home. The family are in uproar with Jim, and Liz goes to stay with Deirdre for a few days. Liz goes back to the house and changes the locks. Jim tries to get in to see her and has to be physically restrained by Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy) and Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) when he starts smashing the back windows of the house. Liz takes out a restraining order on Jim, and calls the police when he insists on speaking to her another time and follows her into the Rovers.

Everyone thinks that she's been too harsh, as this time Jim is very rational. From then on, the rest of the family start to feel a bit more for Jim, having been unanimously against him at the beginning. No sooner is Jim out of prison, than Steve is in. Liz now spends her time seeing him, and trying to persuade Fiona Middleton (Angela Griffin) to see him too. Jim and Liz divorce soon after he is released from prison.

Liz, now single and on her own, and was working for Sean Skinner in the bookie's shop. She had a flirtation with Sean but it was thwarted by a criminal called Fraser Henderson. He had noticed her when she was visiting Jim in the nick and contacted her when he was released. He had Sean beaten but Liz gets involved with him anyway and he gives her a job in a wine bar he owns. Fiona's fiancé, police detective Alan McKenna persuads Liz to get some inside info on Fraser who skipps town when he finds out. But his henchman capturs Liz and holds her and her sons captive in Number 11. Liz manages to use her stiletto on the thug and the police arrest him.

In 1998, after Jim has a bad accident on a building site, he becomes temporarily paralysed and Liz, taking pity on him, moves back in to help take care of him. They grow closer but Liz soon becomes distracted by Jim's physiotherapist, Michael Wall (Dominic Rickhards) and starts an affair with him. Jim is going to propose and finds out, breaking his heart. Liz and Michael leave Weatherfield for a new life together in Milton Keynes.

Liz returns some two later when Jim is in prison, having confessed to beating Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman) which results later in Jez's death. She is no longer with Michael. During this time she and Jim get back together and remarry in the prison chapel. Liz leaves the Street again in January 2001, following Jim around as he is transferred from one to another prison, getting jobs nearby so that she can visit.

Liz reappears in November 2003 when she is living in Blackpool and is regretting a fling with her latest boss, Laurie Dyson (Andrew Dunn), the owner of a pub. Jim gets wind of her affair and breaks out of prison to find her. They nearly escape to Ireland on a boat but stop to help Ashley(Steve Arnold) and Claire Peacock (Julia Haworth) who are stranded in a boat and having trouble. Back on the dock, Jim is apprehended and sent back to prison. Liz goes to Brighton with old boss Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear).

Liz reappears again for son Steve and girlfriend Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones)'s wedding in February 2004. She stays for a while, causing trouble because she is spending time with Tracy (now played by Kate Ford) and her baby granddaughter, Amy, whom Tracy and Steve had received from a one-night stand they'd had. She goes back to Brighton but returns when Fred Elliott (John Savident) hires her to work in the Rovers. Still wearing short skirts, high heels and plunging necklines, she incurs unwanted attention from builder Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward) who is seeing pub manager Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) at the time. Charlie makes sure it look like it was Liz doing the chasing and forces her out of the pub, both home and job. Liz later gets a job at the Weatherfield Arms and flat shares with Maria Sutherland (Samia Smith) in the flat over the cab office. She continues to encourage Tracy's attentions to Steve even though Steve wants nothing to do with Tracy.

In 2005, when Jim's temper got the better of him and has his time in prison extended again, Liz decides that enough is enough and divorces Jim.

After several romantic encounters, Liz meets Vernon Tomlin (Ian Reddington), a workshy drummer. He is very laid-back and totally unlike Jim, but they have fun and Liz feels like a teenager again. The pair split when Liz, tired of being taken for granted and his roving eye, throws him out. He returns, begging her to take him back and they get engaged in 2007.

Liz is not happy and seeks excitement in a fling with brewery delivery man Derek (David Hough). Derek's wife, Linda (Sarah Parks), tells Liz that she knows he is having an affair but doesn't know whom with so Liz tells Derek they will have to stop seeing each other. Eventually Liz resumes things with Derek but when she finds herself on a balcony in her underwear, she realises that she cannot continue the affair. She ends the relationship and confesses to his wife.

When Jim is released in November 2007, Liz is wary of allowing him into her life. However, impressed by how he has changed, they stay friends. However, when Jim corners her on her wedding day, her initial fears are justified. He tells her he loves her and will not allow the marriage to take place, launching a violent attack when Vernon intervenes. Liz suppresses her doubts about marrying Vernon and – determined not to let Jim win – goes ahead. The couple go on honeymoon to Nashville, but only after Vernon discovers Liz had nearly called off the wedding. On returning from honeymoon, Liz reveals that she will not be changing her name. In June 2008, Vernon and Liz go to view a bar, possibly intending to buy it. Liz admits to Vernon that she would not be happy and no longer loves him, ending their marriage. A devastated Vernon moves out of the Rovers that day.

2008–11

In early 2008, it is obvious there is a spark between Liz and bookie Harry Mason (Jack Ellis). In May 2008, Vernon and his bandmates go on a cruise gig. Liz is supposed to go too but tells him she cannot leave the pub. She later confides in Deirdre that she can't stand being with Vernon 24/7. When Vernon leaves, Harry takes advantage and invites Liz to the opening of a bookies.

In May 2008, Liz accepts an invitation for dinner at Harry's flat. She tells Steve that Deirdre has personal problems to get the night off work. The evening almost ends with a kiss but Liz, thinking of Vernon, rejects his advances but is tempted. The next day Liz goes to his place again, for lunch this time. However, Harry's son Dan Mason (Matthew Crompton) guesses what is happening when he sees Liz and Harry leaving the Rovers at the same time and tells Steve. Steve confronts Deirdre, Harry and Liz but Liz tells him to stay out of her private life.

After splitting from Vernon, Liz gets closer to Harry, making Harry's ex-wife Clarissa (Alexandra Boyd) jealous. The tables are soon turned and Liz is jealous when Harry tells her that he and Clarissa are back together. In September 2008, Liz and Harry sleep together on a couple of occasions. Vernon writes Liz a letter, proclaiming his love and asking her to go to London with him. Liz, however, is preoccupied by a charity ball date with Harry to take much notice. Unfortunately, Harry lets Liz down by taking Clarissa instead. Liz rushes to catch Vernon before he leaves but is too late. She swears revenge and she and Clarissa team up to humiliate Harry. He leaves the street with Clarissa when she agrees to take him back, providing he never returns to Weatherfield.

On December 2008, Liz kisses Steve's best friend Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles) during a Brazilian crunch party whilst he is on a date with a girl named Danielle (Annie Cooper). They then start a relationship. However, she becomes mad at him when he is too embarrassed to say that she is his girlfriend in public, but later forgives him. The relationship ends after a number of months with Liz blaming the age gap between them.

Liz disapproves of Steve and Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly)'s marriage from the very beginning, stating that she thinks it won't go ahead. Their wedding is on March 13, but Becky turns up drunk, and they never get married, proving her right. On her return from Spain, she avoids Lloyd and finally tells him that what they had was just a bit of fun, a tearful Lloyd attempts to win her back. Later, Liz tearfully reveals to Betty Williams (Betty Driver) that she has entered the menopause and she can no longer conceive. In August 2009, at Steve and Becky's wedding reception, Liz is furious when the pub is raided by the police for drugs and results in banning Becky from serving as barmaid.

Following Lloyd's drunken one-night-stand with Teresa Bryant (Karen Henthorn), it seems that Liz is willing to get back with Lloyd as they get ready to go out and kiss. However, once the word of Teresa gets around, Liz is furious and ends things with Lloyd once more, saying that if he went for Teresa he'd go for anyone, Lloyd is left distraught but later enters a reluctant relationship with Teresa. Liz and Teresa continue having icy exchanges and as revenge Teresa arranges a 'Vicars and Tarts' night where everyone dressed up as Liz, humiliating her. As revenge, she takes the keys to Lloyd's flat and puts his records in the oven, taking the rest and throwing them out the window at him. Teresa blackmails Lloyd into proposing to her on the condition she settles the feud with Liz, who makes it clear she couldn't care less of their 'engagement'.

In June 2010, Liz finds herself attracted to builder Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies), who is new to the area and openly flirts with him across the bar. She is disgruntled when he takes Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) on several dates, but tries to hide it. Eventually she and Owen begin dating. In early December 2010, Liz hears rumours that Owen arranged for former husband Jim to be beaten up. She packs her bags and heads for Andy's home in Spain, leaving Steve to reveal to Owen that the relationship is over.

Liz returns in March 2011 and is horrified to discover that Tracy, who was jailed for murdering boyfriend Charlie Stubbs, is now working behind the bar at The Rovers, having been granted an early release, and is looking after Amy (now played by Elle Mulvaney). Liz subsequently discovers that Steve and Becky bought Becky's nephew Max Turner (Harry McDermott) for 20,000 pounds, from Becky's sister Kylie (Paula Lane). She is further stunned when she learns that Becky looted from the corner shop, on the night of the tram crash three months previously, in order to give Kylie more cash. With the pub now under severe financial pressure, due to Steve and Becky buying Max, Liz is devastated. She makes her contempt for Becky clear from the outset, who responds by kicking Liz out of the pub.

A desperate Liz then bumps into Jim at a hotel she is staying at. She seeks his suppport as she tells him of the situation that Becky and Steve have got themselves into. He suggests that she buy the pub but the bank manager refuses to give Liz a loan. Jim then suggests that he could buy the pub for Liz, as Steve and Becky decide to leave Weatherfield with Max and Amy. Liz makes her peace with the couple after they agree to the sale. Liz is now convinced that her dreams of owning The Rovers is going to come true and soon realises that she wants Jim to run it with her. The estranged couple soon reconcile.

The date for the sale is set for 11 April 2011. Liz and Steve wait patiently at the Rovers, with the solicitor, for Jim to come in with the money for the sale. Liz is astonished when the police suddenly arrive at the pub to tell her that Jim has been caught robbing a bank and now has a number of hostages. Over the phone, Liz and Jim (from inside the bank) speak, he explains that he never had the money but wanted to buy The Rovers to make her happy. A frightened Liz convinces Jim to let the hostages go, discard his firearm and surrender to the police officers waiting outside the building.

After the stress of the incident, Liz makes a sudden departure from the street, not telling anyone before hand that she is leaving. She promises Jim when she visits him in custody that she will be waiting for him when he is eventually released from prison. However, after expressing her feelings about the prospect of having to go through the stress of Jim's trial to Steve and Becky, and realising her dream of owning the Rovers outright isn't as important to her as she thought, she decides to leave Weatherfield. After an emotional final look round the pub, remembering good times but also many arguments held inside over the years, she finishes her drink that she has whilst inside alone, waiting for the taxi that she's booked to the airport. She picks up the small suitcase she's packed and locks up the pub when the taxi arrives and gets in. Her last words are to the driver; 'Go for it!' as the taxi pulls out of the street.