Liz McDonald

Infobox soap character
color =#F0E68C
name = Liz McDonald


caption = Liz McDonald in 2008
series = Coronation Street
first = 27 October 1989 - 2 November 1998, 27 November 2000 - 25 December 2000, 26 November 2003 -
residence = Rovers Return Inn|
born = Bda|1957|10|29|df=y
spouse = Jim McDonald (1974–1997, 2001–2005)
Vernon Tomlin (2007–)
children = Steve McDonald
Andy McDonald
Katie McDonald
romances = Colin Barnes
Michael
Harry Mason
grandchildren = Amy Barlow
occupation = Landlady
portrayer = Beverley Callard

Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald (née Greenwood, previously Tomlin) is a fictional character on the ITV1 soap opera "Coronation Street". She is played by Beverley Callard.

Background and Arrival

Liz first appeared in 1989 with her husband, ex-army sergeant [http://www.itv.com/Soaps/coronationstreet/castandcharacters/mtop/JimMcDonald/default.html] Jim McDonald, and their twin sons Steve and Andy. Liz and Jim had a stormy marriage, caused by his hot temper and jealous rages. Soon after arriving on the Street, Liz made friends with Deirdre Barlow, whose daughter Tracy was slightly younger than the twins.

Marriage to Jim McDonald

Liz and Jim's marriage was tested many times. In 1992, Liz gave birth to a baby girl prematurely. The couple named her Katie but she died after one day. The following year, Jim wrongly believed Liz was having an affair with brewery boss Richard Willmore and they separated. She began a relationship with Colin Barnes but did not consider it to be serious and was eventually reconciled with Jim. After taking a job at the local bookmakers', she found herself attracted to her boss, Colin's brother Des. She resisted temptation and resigned. After an army reunion in 1996, Jim forced Liz to confess that she had once slept with one of his colleagues while he was away serving. He assaulted and abandoned her in the street and she changed the locks on their house, obtaining a court injunction to keep him away. He spent a short time in prison when he broke the restraining order and the couple divorced. Steve, too, served time in prison and Liz was flattered by the attentions of his fellow inmate Fraser Henderson. She visited him regularly and he gave her a job in a wine bar he owned when he was released. A policeman friend, Alan McKenna, persuaded Liz to inform on Fraser's criminal activities but when Fraser found out, he disappeared and sent one of his henchmen to hold Liz, Jim and Andy hostage.

In 1998, Liz and Jim were briefly reconciled when Jim had an accident and was unable to walk for several months. Liz took care of him but began a secret affair with his physiotherapist Michael. Jim was about to ask Liz to marry him again when he found the pair in bed together. Liz and Michael then left Weatherfield to live in Milton Keynes, but their relationship did not last long.

In 2000, Liz returned when Jim was once again sent to prison, this time for manslaughter after attacking a drug-dealer (Jez Quigley) who had tried to kill Steve. The couple were reunited and were re-married in a prison ceremony on 30 November 2000, and she moved away from Weatherfield in 2001, in order to be able to visit him regularly.

Liz re-emerged in late 2003, working in a bar in Blackpool, when Jim escaped from prison and attempted to go on the run with her. The attempt failed when he was captured and sent back to prison. A few months later she arrived in Weatherfield to attend Steve's second wedding to Karen and involved herself in the wrangle over Amy, the child Steve had fathered after a one-night-stand with Tracy Barlow. In 2005, upon hearing that Jim's remission had been cancelled because he had assaulted another prison inmate, Liz decided she was no longer willing to wait for him, and they once again split up and divorced for a second time.

Working as a barmaid and landlady

Liz has worked as a barmaid throughout her life, working at the Rovers Return from 1991 until being offered her own pub by the brewery, The Queen's, in 1993. In 1995, Liz and Jim made a bid to buy the Rovers Return Inn, but their offer was rejected. Since then, Liz has worked at pubs in Blackpool and Brighton and also as barmaid at the British Legion and the Weatherfield Arms.
In 2006, Liz finally became landlady of the Rovers when her son Steve bought the business.

Later Storylines

After several doomed romantic encounters, Liz met Vernon Tomlin, a workshy drummer in a band. He was very laid-back and totally unlike Jim, but the couple had fun and Liz felt like a teenager once more. The pair eventually split when Liz, tired of him taking her for granted and of his roving eye for the ladies, threw him out. He later returned and begged her to take him back and they became engaged in 2007.

Liz was not completely happy with her relationship with Vernon and sought excitement in the form of a fling with brewery delivery man Derek. When Derek's wife, Linda, confessed to Liz that she knew he was having an affair but was unsure with whom, Liz told Derek that they would have to stop seeing each other for the time being. Regardless, Liz went on to resume her meetings with Derek, but when she found herself in her underwear, trapped on a balcony in an apartment block overlooking Weatherfield, she realised she couldn't continue the affair. She ended her relationship with Derek and confessed to his wife on the day of Sally Webster's fortieth birthday party.

When Jim was released from prison in November 2007, Liz was wary of allowing him back into her life again. But she was impressed by the change in his temperament and allowed their relationship to continue on friendly terms. However, when Jim cornered her on the morning of her New Years Eve wedding to Vernon, her initial fears were proven justfied. He told her that he loved her and would not allow the marriage to take place and when Vernon intervened, Jim launched a violent attack on him.

Liz suppressed her own doubts about marrying Vernon and - determined not to allow Jim to have his own way - went ahead with the ceremony. The couple went on their honeymoon to Nashville, but only after Vernon discovered that Liz had nearly called off the wedding.
On returning from her honeymoon Liz revealed that she would be keeping her surname as McDonald as this is the name she was known in the licence trade.

On June 30 2008, Vernon and Liz went to view a bar with the intention of possibly buying it. It was at this point that Liz admitted to Vernon that she would not be happy there and that she no longer loved him, she said that their marriage was over. A devastated Vernon moved out of the Rovers that day leaving an upset Liz behind.

In March and April 2008, it became obvious that there was a spark between Liz and bookie Harry Mason. In May 2008, Vernon joined his bandmates Vince and Don on a cruise gig. Liz was all set to go with him, but told him she couldn't leave the pub. She later confided in Deirdre that she actually couldn't stand to be with Vernon on the ship 24/7. When Vernon left, Harry took advantage of his absence and invited Liz to the opening of a bookies.

In May 2008, Liz accepted an invitation for dinner at his flat. She made up a story to Steve about Deirdre having personal problems so that she could get the night off work. The evening almost ended with a kiss but Liz, thinking of Vernon who was still away on the cruise, rejected his advances but was clearly tempted as she left the flat. The following day Liz went around to his place again, this time for lunch. However, Harry's son Dan Mason realised what was going on as he saw Liz leaving the Rovers at the same time as Harry and soon afterwards informed Steve that they were having a fling. Steve angrily confronted Deirdre about the situation who admitted that Liz was tempted by Harry's charms. Steve then confronted Harry and Liz about their relationship. Liz then told Steve to stay out of her private life.

Since her break up from Vernon, Liz began to become more close to Harry, which made Harry's ex-wife Clarissa's nose go out of joint. But the tables were soon turned, and Liz was the one feeling jealous when she discovered that Harry and Clarissa were calling off the divorce, and were getting back together. She now continues her life working in the Rovers, always acting like she has no interest at all in Harry, but secretly, she wants snobby Clarissa out of the picture, so she can have him for herself.

In September 2008, Liz and Harry slept together on a couple of occasions. Heartbroken ex Vernon wrote a letter to Liz proclaiming his love for her and urged her to come with him as he made it big with a record label. In the meanwhile, Liz was too preoccupied by a charity ball date with Harry to take much notice. The tables were turned once more on Liz as Harry took Clarissa to the ball instead leaving her humiliated. Rushing outside to catch Vernon before he left, she was too late as the man who truly loved her left the street. She swore revenge on Harry. She and Clarissa later teamed together and humiliated Harry by getting him caught with his trousers down, and he later left the street after Clarissa agreed to take him back under the condition that he never sets foot in Weatherfield again.

References