Guest Author - Pam Lawrence

He was an iconic Lothario, the wheeler dealer we loved to hate, and the Street will be that much less drama filled without him. After 30 turbulent years, Mike Baldwin, portrayed so brilliantly by Johnny Briggs, has died in the arms of arch nemesis Ken Barlow. Here in Canada, the drama played out over Christmas week in back to back episodes, allowing viewers a good post turkey weep.

The cheeky Londoner arrived on the Street in 1976 and started as he would go on- by having a fling with brash barmaid Bet, moving her into Minnie Caldwell's old house as his 'housekeeper'. It was a short lived affair, as were most of the Cockney's liasons.

Younger viewers who remember Mike's mostly happy marriage to the understanding Alma will be a bit perplexed at the complex family mess he has left behind. After 25 girlfriends and a bunch of marriages you'd expect a bit of familial flotsam. Let's recap.

This year it was revealed that Danny is Mike's son. A bit far fetched, but a great plot twist. But lurking in the background is the figure of Adam, a lad who is not only Mike's son, but Ken's grandson. Now there's a story. Ken had a daughter Susan, aged just twenty, who Mike married in 1986. You can imagine how thrilled Ken was at that (She died young in a car accident) . Anyway, the result was Adam, and a bonus spectacular punch up at the factory as Ken vented his fury.

Just prior to his tragic demise, Mike ran off into the night in a suicidal muddle to visit yet another of his offspring, the handsome Mark. He, if you recall, was the result of a liaison with florist Maggie. Mark fell somewhat in his dad's affections as he scarpered just as Baldwin senior was about to wed Linda. He couldn't face his dad, having had an ongoing affair with the bride to be.

In a television interview Briggs said he was suitably impressed by the quality of the writing which sent him off in Barlow's arms, allowing him to die taunting his rival with the ghost of one of the most dramatic affairs in Corrie history- the Ken/Deidre/Mike triangle.

In 1983 22 million people were held in thrall over the will she won't she of 'sexy specs' and her tortured decision between 'boring' Ken or dashing Mike. Her mother Blanche hasn't forgotten the affair either, as in a recent episode watching Mike's tragic deterioration to Alzheimer's she commented “bet she's glad she picked Ken now !” Classic Blanche.

The bitterness with Ken continued in 1991, over Alma. She became tired of the crazy ride that was dating Mike and she hung out with Ken for a while. This was enough to drive Mike bonkers; he won her back and married her. It wasn't until the Freshco siege in 2000, with the two enemies tied together as hostages facing death, that they were able to reach a kind of peace.