Street's ‘rogue' rover returned

APPEARING in the first episode of Coronation Street in 1960, aged 24, Philip Lowrie quickly became a national heartthrob.

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Playing Jack-the-lad Dennis Tanner, the son of Elsie, (Pat Phoenix) Lowrie remained on the show as a regular until 1968.

"In those streets, there is always a bad 'un, a wrong 'un and he was the wrong 'un," said the ITV soap's creator Tony Warren of Dennis.

But the actor walked out on his Street role in 1968, giving up a lucrative £250-a-week salary for just £20 a week in repertory theatre, where his true passion lay.

He made his return to the cobbles 43 years later to woo and marry Rita Sullivan, played by Barbara Knox.