So, I decided to really dig into this Wendy Barlow thing the other day. You know, from Corrie. She pops up now and again, and I realised I couldn’t quite place her whole story, all the bits and pieces over the years. Felt like one of those characters who drifts in and out, and you forget the details.
First thing I did was just try and remember her initial run. Back when she was Ken’s secretary. That was ages ago, wasn’t it? Had a vague memory of the whole affair storyline, but the specifics were fuzzy. So, I thought, right, let’s piece this together properly.
Getting Started
I started by trying to find those old episodes. Easier said than done, let me tell you. Some are on the streaming services, but you have to hunt. Others, well, you’re relying on dodgy old recordings or summaries online, which isn’t the same as seeing it yourself. Spent a good few evenings just scrolling through episode guides, trying to pinpoint the key dates she was actually on screen.
- Checked my old tapes first (yes, I still have some!). Found a few bits.
- Scoured the ITV Hub archives, but navigating that for specific old storylines is a pain.
- Looked through fan wikis just to get episode numbers, then tried finding those episodes.
The Watching Process
Once I had a rough list of appearances, I started watching them in order. Or as close to order as I could manage. I wasn’t just passively watching, mind you. I had a notepad. Jotting down things like:
- Her motivations in different scenes.
- How her relationship with Ken changed over time.
- How the writing portrayed her – victim, manipulator, just ambitious?
- How she changed each time she returned after a break.
It’s funny what you notice when you’re looking for it. Little mannerisms, bits of dialogue that hint at more. Seeing her first appearance compared to her most recent one was quite the contrast. Same character, supposedly, but time and different writers definitely change things.
Putting It Together
After watching a load of key episodes spanning decades, I tried to map out her journey. The initial affair, leaving, the return visits, the different jobs, the interactions with Deirdre, Tracy, Ken again. It wasn’t a simple straight line. More like a tangled web. Some appearances felt quite brief, almost like the writers just needed a familiar face for a short plot.
The whole process took longer than I expected. Finding the material was the biggest hurdle. It’s not like they make it easy to follow one character’s complete history unless they’re a major fixture like Ken himself.
Final Thoughts
Did it change my view of Wendy? A bit. Made her feel more rounded, less of just ‘Ken’s bit on the side’. You see her trying to build her own life, the regrets, the lingering connection to Ken. It was an interesting exercise, anyway. Made me appreciate the long history of the show, even if tracking down bits of it felt like proper detective work sometimes. Just a little project I set myself, kept me busy for a week or two.
