Linda Cheveski (nee Tanner) was a character in Coronation Street from Episode 1 (9 Dec 1960) to 1961 followed by recurring appearances from 1962 to 1968, then again for a final stint in 1984, from Ep 2413 - 16 May 1984, and last appearing in Ep 2423 - 20 Jun 1984. Linda is the eldest child and only daughter of Elsie Tanner, and the older sister of Dennis Tanner.
Linda was played by actress Anne Cunningham.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Linda Tanner was born on the 8th January 1940 at Number 11 Coronation Street. She was the eldest child of Arnold Tanner and Elsie Tanner. A brother, Dennis Tanner was born in 1942. In 1958, aged 18, Linda married Polish Ivan Cheveski. In late 1960, she and Ivan separated for a while. Linda was pregnant.
1960-1961[]
A pregnant Linda stayed with her mother Elsie at No 11. Ivan tracked her down and they soon got back when she said she was pregnant. He liked the idea. On the 14th June 1961, a son Paul Cheveski was born. Ivan had a friend who worked 3000 miles away in Montreal, Canada and Ivan showed interest in working out there. Linda was reluctant but later agreed. They then left a week later.
1962-1968[]
Linda, Ivan, and 1 year old Paul flew back to Weatherfield for Christmas 1962 to visit Elsie. During her brief stay over Christmas and New Year 1963, Linda suspected Elsie was having an affair with married man Len Fairclough. In early January 1963, Linda then returned to Canada.
Shortly after returning to Canada, Linda was pregnant and had a son Martin Cheveski in late 1963.
In October 1966, the Cheveskis returned to England to visit Elsie. After 5 year old Paul went missing, later found, the Cheveskis decided to return to England and they settled in Birmingham. Linda attended the wedding of her mother Elsie to American Steve Tanner in 1967. In late May 1968, Linda attended the wedding of her brother Dennis. Dennis soon moved to Bristol. Dennis' wedding was to be Linda's last visit to Weatherfield for 16 years.
1984[]
Linda in 1984.
In May 1984, 16 years since her last visit to Weatherfield, Linda returned to Coronation Street, 4 months after Elsie's departure to oversee the sale of No.11. At the time, Bill Webster and his children lived at No 11. Linda hoped to start a relationship with Bill as she was now estranged from Ivan. Linda planned to stay in Weatherfield. However Bill wasn't interested, so Linda sold No 11 to Bill and then left Weatherfield again in June 1984.
1987[]
- Note: The events here are taken from the direct-to-video spin-off "The Life and Loves of Elsie Tanner", which is possibly non-canon due to later contradictions in "Coronation Street" continuity (see behind the scenes below).
Now divorced from Ivan, Linda was on her way to Birmingham but stopped by Coronation Street to reminisce about the street she once lived in, having last set foot in the street 3 years earlier. Spotted by Emily Bishop, she was invited into Emily's house and the two of them discussed the life of Elsie. Mike Baldwin later joined them to talk about Elsie. After the chat Linda felt much better stopping by, and then departed the street for the last time.
Sometime after 1987, Linda emigrated to Canada, again, this time for good.
Post 1987[]
In May 2011, Linda's brother Dennis moved back to Weatherfield. He did not mention what became of Linda during his three year stay back in Weatherfield, although he was aware that she was living back in Canada. He mentioned this to Rita at some point off-screen, as she already knew where Linda lived by the time Dennis died in 2020.
As of February 2020, Linda was by then 80 years old, and still living in Canada, where she resides in the city of Toronto. After Dennis passed away following a battle with dementia, his ashes were sent to Rita with a note mentioning about Linda staying in Canada. It is unknown if she ever found out about her brother's passing.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Anne Cunningham was forced to leave the show in 1961 due to the Equity Actors Strike, and departed alongside on-screen husband Ernst Walder who played Ivan Cheveski. She continued to make recurring appearances throughout the 1960s until 1968, then again briefly in 1984.
- Anne reprised the role for the VHS Special The Life and Loves of Elsie Tanner in 1987. The events in the video may not be canon, as it is hinted that Elsie recently passed away (as did her portrayer Patricia Phoenix) but in 2011 when Dennis Tanner returned he stated Elsie died around the mid-2000s in a car crash with her lover Bill Gregory. Despite this obvious contradiction regarding Elsie's fate, it hasn't been officially said whether or not Linda's visit in 1987 was canon. Pat Phoenix died in September 1986 so the 1987 video release was probably written as if Elsie had died at the same time as the actress.
- During Dennis' return stint from 2011 to 2014 Linda's fate and marriage to Ivan wasn't disclosed, leaving it much a mystery. She was later mentioned in February 2020 when it is revealed she is living in Toronto, Canada, and it is implied she is now living alone.
- In 1960, Linda was hinted as being about 25 at the time, so born about 1935, but when the show proved popular and was to continue past its 13 episode run, she was aged down a few years.
- Linda is the last female original character to appear in the show.
- During an interview she provided for the Coronation Street Blog in March 2017, Cunningham was asked if she would ever consider returning to the show, in which she replied that she has no desire to due to Philip Lowrie's experience during his 2011-2014 stint.[1]
- As of 2024, Linda is the last remaining living relative of the original Tanner clan. She will be 84 now.
Appendices[]
List of addresses[]
| Address | Duration |
|---|---|
| Number 11 Coronation Street | 8th January 1940 to 1958 |
| Warrington | 1958 to December 1960 |
| 11 Coronation Street | December 1960 |
| Warrington | December 1960 to 12th April 1961 |
| 9 Coronation Street | 12th April 1961 to 6th December 1961 |
| Montreal, Canada | December 1961 to October 1966 |
| Birmingham | October 1966 to 16th May 1984 |
| 11 Coronation Street | 16th May 1984 to 20th June 1984 |
| Birmingham | June 1984 to unknown date |
| Toronto, Canada | Thereafter |
Employment history[]
| Role | Institution | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Elliston's Raincoat Factory | 1950s |
Memorable info[]
Appearances: 9 Dec 1960–6 Dec 1961, 26 Nov 1962–2 Jan 1963, 3 Oct–30 Nov 1966, 4 Sep –27 Dec 1967, 27–29 May 1968, 16 May–20 Jun 1984
Born: 14th January 1940, Number 11 Coronation Street, Weatherfield, Lancashire
Full Name: Linda Cheveski (Nee Tanner)
Parents: Arnold Tanner and Elsie Tanner (Nee Grimshaw)
Siblings: Dennis Tanner
Grandfathers: Wally Tanner, Arthur Grimshaw
Grandmothers: Amy Tanner, Alice Grimshaw
Spouses: Ivan Cheveski (1958-1984)
Children: Paul Cheveski (1961), Martin Cheveski (1963)
Grandchildren: Unknown