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Original Coronation Street star Philip Lowrie dies aged 88 as tributes pour in

Philip Lowrie, who played Dennis Tanner and appeared in the first-ever episode of Coronation Street, has died aged 88

Dennis was the son of Pat Phoenix’s character Elsie Tanner and entered the scene as a teenage tearaway who had just been released from prison for petty theft. After moving to Weatherfield with his mother, Dennis was the love interest of Rita Sullivan, played by Barbara Knox, and became her third husband upon his return to the show in 2011. “Lowrie brought an incredible charm and charisma to Dennis, who was the scampish son of Elsie Tanner and later husband of Rita.

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