Barbara Knox facts for kids

Barbara Knox (born 30 September 1933) is an English actress. She is famous for playing Rita Tanner in the TV show Coronation Street. This show is a long-running soap opera on ITV.

Barbara first appeared as Rita in December 1964 for just one episode. She then came back to the show full-time in January 1972. She is now the second-longest serving cast member in Coronation Street. Only William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, has been on the show longer. Barbara Knox has played Rita for over 50 years. This makes her one of the longest-serving TV soap opera stars in the world!

Barbara started her acting career on stage in 1962. She also had a small role in the 1969 film Goodbye, Mr. Chips. In 1972, she appeared with comedian Ken Dodd in his TV series. Barbara won an award in 1989 for her acting in a big storyline involving the character Alan Bradley. In 2006, she won an award for Best On-Screen Partnership with Malcolm Hebden. She also received a special Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In 2010, she was made an MBE by the Queen for her work in drama.

Early Life and First Jobs

Barbara Knox was born Barbara Brothwood in Oldham, Lancashire, England. She was an only child. Her mother worked in a mill, and her father was a fireman.

Barbara left school when she was 15 years old. Her first job was as a telegraphist at the Post Office. This meant she sent messages using special codes. She also learned shorthand and typing. She worked in offices, shops, and a factory too.

While working, Barbara also enjoyed acting in amateur theatre. This is when people act for fun, not as a job. In 1962, she was asked to act in a play called The Boyfriend. This was her first professional acting job.

Acting Career Before Coronation Street

After her stage debut, Barbara appeared in several television shows. These included Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width and A Family at War. She also had a role as a dancer in the 1969 musical film Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

Barbara also worked on BBC radio. She did many different jobs for comedy shows, sometimes helping comedians with their acts. In 1972, she was on a sketch show called Funny You Should Say That with comedian Ken Dodd.

Playing Rita Tanner

Barbara Knox first played Rita in Coronation Street on 2 December 1964. Her character was Rita Littlewood, a friend of Dennis Tanner. She only appeared in that one episode at first.

She returned to the show in January 1972 as Rita Bates. Over the years, her character Rita has been married three times. Her husbands were Len Fairclough, Ted Sullivan, and Dennis Tanner. In 1973, Barbara even recorded a music album called 'On the Street Where I Live'.

Barbara has given interviews about her time on Coronation Street. She appeared on Paul O'Grady Live in 2010 for the show's 50th anniversary. She also appeared on This Morning in 2012 and 2013.

In 2014, Barbara was part of a TV documentary called Coronation Street: A Moving Story. This show was about the TV set moving to a new location. On 31 December 2014, ITV celebrated her 50 years as Rita with a special documentary called Rita and Me.

Today, Barbara Knox is the second-longest serving cast member on Coronation Street. Only William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, has been on the show longer.

Personal Life

Barbara Knox has been married twice. She married Denis Mullaney in 1956. They had three children: Maxine, John, and Amanda. They divorced in 1977. She then married John Knox in 1977, but they divorced in 1994.

Barbara is a very private person. She does not often give interviews. However, she has appeared in some Coronation Street documentaries. She has also attended television awards shows with her co-stars.

Awards and Special Honours

Barbara Knox has won several awards for her acting:

In 2010, Barbara Knox was given a special honour. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her great contributions to drama.