Frankie Baldwin was a minor character in Coronation Street in 1980, 1981 and 1982, last appearing in Ep 2166 - 4 Jan 1982. He was the Cockney wide boy father of local spiv Mike Baldwin, like father like son as Frankie was a bit of a spiv. Frankie was played by Sam Kydd.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Frankie Baldwin was born in 1920 in Bermondsey, London. He married a woman named Mary in about 1940 and they had 2 sons, Harry Baldwin in September 1940 and Michael Vernon Baldwin on the 16th February 1942. Frankie was a dock worker. In 1976, Frankie's son Mike moved north for business.
1980-1982[]
Frankie arrived in Weatherfield in late 1980 to see his son Mike. He embarrassed Mike by revealing his middle name, Vernon, to his friends in The Rovers Return. Frankie conned Fred Gee over some money. In January 1981 Mike advised Frankie to get back to the smoke or Fred will go after him. Frankie quickly returned to London. He returned to Weatherfield in April 1981 to pay off Fred, and returned again in September and October 1981, and again in December 1981. He was last seen on the 4th January 1982.
Death[]
In Ep 2218 - 5 Jul 1982, Mike got told that his dad Frankie Baldwin had died of a heart attack. In 2003, when Mike was 61 he said that was the age his dad was when he died. Mike would live on for another three years after passing away in April 2006. Harry Baldwin had also died the previous year, in 2005, aged about 64, he appears to have been Mike's older brother.
Notes[]
- Sam Kydd was intended to make further appearances but he had fallen seriously ill after recording his latest episode. He passed away in March 1982, two months after his last appearance as Frankie.
- When Frankie passed away in July 1982, Mike mentioned that he died at his home. However in 2002 when Mike celebrated his 60th birthday, he said his father died while playing golf.
- In his 1980-1982 stint, Frankie said that Mike was his only child. No mention was made of another child. In 2004 it was revealed that Mike had a brother Harry Baldwin. Mike's "nephew" Danny Baldwin arrived in 2004 to help Mike at the factory. It was revealed that Danny was Mike's son as he had an affair with Harry's wife Viv Baldwin. If he was alive today, he would've been 100 years old.
Memorable info[]
Appearances: 1 December 1980–14 January 1981, 13–15 April 1981, 28 September–7 October 1981, 30 December 1981–4 January 1982
Born: About 1920/1921, Bermondsey, London
Died: 4th July 1982 (Aged 61)
Full Name: Francis Baldwin
Parents: Mr Baldwin and Mrs Baldwin
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Mary Baldwin (Nee Unknown) (c1940-??)
Children: Harry Baldwin (1940), Mike Baldwin (1942)
Grandchildren: Danny Baldwin, Mark Redman, Adam Barlow
Great Grandchildren: Jamie Baldwin, Warren Baldwin