Terry Duckworth is the main antagonist of the British Soap Opera Coronation Street.

He was an infamous criminal and a serial petty crook who always displays a selfish streak due to caring only for himself. This extents to the point where he regularly steals from not just his neighbors, but from his parents and even his own children. Terry was the nefarious son of best loved couple Jack and Vera Duckworth.

He is portrayed by Nigel Pivaro.

Development[]

In his characterisation, Terry Duckworth is the only son of long-standing street residents Jack and Vera. He was introduced in August 1983 when he and his parents moved onto the street. In his early years he was portrayed as a ladies man and lovable rogue, who was also part of a comedic trio along with Curly Watts and Kevin Webster. But by the end of his regular stint in 1987, he had began displaying shadier signs, and his exit saw him run off with the wife of his old army friend. Terry made a return for several months in 1988, in which he had a run in with the show's main antagonist at the time Alan Bradley.

From 1992 onwards Terry began appearing on a recurring basis, and from then on was cemented as a villain and portrayed as a devious and immoral individual with little care for others. He sold his son Tommy Duckworth to his other grandparents in 1993, despite it breaking his mother's heart. During Terry's many returns he wouldn't just cross his parents, but other residents of the street. He was indirectly involved in the death of Judy Mallet when he sold her and her husband Gary a dodgy car and she crashed it. Judy died of an embolism shortly afterwards as a result of the crash. In 2000 he agreed to donate a kidney to his ill son Paul as long as he got a pay out, but bottled it and left his mother to donate a kidney, which resulted in her nearly dying. Terry appeared to put behind his criminal ways in 2002 when he was set up for a crime he didn't commit by a police officer, but upon his return for his mother's funeral in 2008 was shown to still be money orientated and cold, as he only wanted to make sure his father wouldn't sell the house - Terry's inheritance.

Terry returned in 2012 two years following Jack's death, and became an enemy to the whole street when he attempted to open a lap dance club at the end of the street. He also met a grown up Tommy and sweet talked him into a potential reconcilation. Terry bailed when he owned loan shark Rick Neelan money, and left Tommy and his friends to face the consequences.

The writers refused to kill off the character, leaving him a Karma Houdini following his 2012 exit.

Biography[]

Early years[]

Prior to moving to Coronation Street, Terry served in the army. He moved to Coronation Street in 1983 along with parents Jack and Vera Duckworth and they began residing at No.11. Terry befriended residents Curly Watts and Kevin Webster, and the trio would often socialise in the Rovers Return Inn. In 1983 he dated Sharon Gaskell, and Curly was jealous as he had a crush on her but was no match for the more charming Terry. The relationship didn't last long as Sharon left Weatherfield shortly after.

In 1985 he began dating Andrea Clayton, much to the disapproval of her parents, which resulted in a feud between the Duckworths and the Claytons. Andrea ended up pregnant but ended up doing a moon night flit from the street, leaving Terry broken hearted. After this incident Terry began to show darker signs in his personality.

The following year he began dating Jenny Bradley, but began spreading rumours about her. This caused him to be confronted by her father, the notorious and harder Alan Bradley, who punched Terry in the Rovers Return. In 1987 Terry reunited with an old army friend of his but betrayed the man by fleeing Weatherfield with his wife.

He came back to Weatherfield along in late 1988 but only because he needed money. He used his return as an opportunity to try and cause a wedge between old friend Kevin and Kevin's wife Sally, as Terry was jealous of their marriage. This caused an end to Terry and Kevin's friendship, and showed that Terry had developed a really unpleasant personality. Feeling there was nothing left for him, Terry left the street once again.

Arrival of twisted Terry[]

Three years later Terry returned to the street with partner Lisa, who was pregnant. Terry was later arrested and sent to prison for assaulting a man, and Lisa moved in with Jack and Vera. Terry agreed to marry her and was given a day release from prison (but with a security guard), but when the cuffs were removed at the ceremony Terry made a run for it, leaving Lisa distraught. Terry was arrested a few days later and sent back to prison, and Lisa broke off with him. She gave birth to their son Tommy in September 1992. She began a relationship with the kinder Des Barnes, but this union would come to a tragic end when Lisa was struck and killed by a car on the street. Tommy came under the care of Jack and Vera, who doted on their grandson.

In December 1993, Terry was visited in prison by Tommy's other grandfather and Lisa's father Jeff Horton, who offered Terry a large sum of money if he will let Tommy live in Blackpool with him and his wife Doreen. On the day of his release, he goes to meet the Hortons and agrees to a one-off payment of £5,000, and £2,000 a year until Tommy reaches sixteen, which Terry agrees to. He returns to the street without letting his parents know his plans and shows lack of interest in Tommy. On Christmas Eve he hands over Tommy to the Hortons, much to the distress of Vera and anger of Jack. Despite Terry claiming he only wants the best for Terry, Jack sees through his act and knows that he was paid and punches Terry and knocks him to the floor. Jack tells Terry he is no longer his son. Terry and Jeff leave the street with Tommy.

Despite having full custody of Tommy, the Hortons agree to let the Duckworths have access to him for the holidays, much to their delight.

In 1996, he took Tommy away from his in-laws when they failed to keep up with the payments and returned to Coronation Street. He later handed Tommy back when they paid up, and made him sign a document which ensured they can have custody of Tommy until the age of 18. Terry returned in 1997 after the birth of his third son, Brad. He tried to fleece his parents of money they earned at their newly owned Rover's Return, but his father saw through Terry and made him leave.

Terry came back in 1999 and sold a dodgy car to Vera. When a neighbour borrowed the car, it caused a car crash and she died later. Terry crushed the car to get rid of the evidence. He turned back up on Christmas and was punched by the dead woman's husband. In 2000, Terry was tracked down by his dad Jack, who asked Terry to donate a kidney for his son Paul Clayton, who was sick. Terry wanted payment, but chickened out at the last minute, leaving his mum to donate which made her sick. This caused Terry to have rarely seen remorse, although she pulled through in the end. In 2001, Terry was locked up in prison after being set up by a cop whose wife he had an affair with. After help from his father, Terry was found not guilty and freed.

In 2008, Terry returned for his mother's funeral. He told his dad he shouldn't sell his house to Tyrone Dobbs, the surrogate son of Jack, as he should keep it in the family. Terry departed again, although Jack didn't listen to what Terry said, as he considered Tyrone and his girlfriend his family. When Jack died in 2010, Terry didn't attend the funeral as he couldn't be bothered making the long trip.

In 2012, Terry borrowed a large sum of money from a loan shark, and planned to set up a strip club on Coronation Street. The residents where shocked by his return. Terry was surprised to find an older Tommy living on the street, and tried to make amends with him, but only to start trouble between Tommy and Tyrone who were now friends. But Terry had problems with loan sharks who threatened him. He got Tommy to ask Tyrone for money, which Tyrone agreed. However Terry planned to flee the street with the new sum of money and get away from Coronation Street. Tommy caught him and gave Terry a choice between him or the money. Terry chose the money and left, before telling Tommy that he was glad Tommy wasn't like himself.

Gallery[]

Terry in 2008.

Trivia[]

• As a regular from 1983 to 1988 Terry appeared for a total of 272 episodes. As a recurring character appearing on and off from 1992 to 2012, he appeared in a total of 93 episodes, bringing his overall total up to 365 episodes in the span of 29 years.
• Terry is comparable to Nick Cotton, the main antagonist on the rival soap opera EastEnders. Both men tend to appear on and off, and when reappearing on the show are involved in a criminal scheme either against their own family or neighbours. The only thing that makes Terry more redeemable to Nick is that he never resorted to murdering anyone or trying to have his own family killed as part of a con. Whilst Terry was indirectly responsible for the death of Judy Mallett, this wasn't intentional.

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