Coronation Street’s iconic pub Rovers Return is set to be SOLD as furious Johnny Connor places the tavern on the market after splitting from his cheating wife Jenny
Coronation Street‘s iconic pub The Rovers Return is set to be sold in the coming weeks after years of being owned by Johnny Connor.
In upcoming scenes Johnny decides to put the tavern on the market after deciding to split from wife Jenny, having learned she cheated on him while he was in prison for armed robbery.
Johnny will join a long list of Corrie veterans who have held the keys to the Rovers Return over the years, including Stella Price, Liz McDonald and Bet Lynch.
On the market! Coronation Street’s iconic pub The Rovers Return is reportedly set to be sold in the coming weeks after years of being owned by Johnny Connor
In scenes set to air next week, Johnny (played by Richard Hawley) surprises Jenny (Sally Ann Matthews) by returning home after his early prison release, but is devastated to learn she slept with B&B guest Ronnie Bailey.
Realising there’s no saving their marriage, a furious Johnny decides to put the pub on the market, with images obtained by The Sun showing the pub with a For Sale sign from estate agent Purple Bricks.
It is just the latest in a series of collaborations between the soap and real-life brands, having already had product placement from Costa Coffee and Co Op.
On the market! In upcoming scenes Johnny decides to put the tavern on the market after deciding to split from wife Jenny
Upset: Johnny is devastated to learn Jenny cheated on him while he was in prison, and immediately puts the pub up for sale
Brand deal: Corrie has collaborated with Purple Bricks for the scenes, with one of the estate agent’s signs set to appear outside the iconic pub
Speaking about the scenes, producer Iain MacLeod said: ‘The upcoming story around the sale of the Rovers Return stems from something exciting that happens between Jenny and Johnny – but it also led to an exciting opportunity to team up with Purplebricks to sell the nation’s most iconic pub.
‘The presence of a real Purplebricks sign outside adds a little bit of extra realism to a really relatable story between two of our best-loved characters.’
Purplebricks’ Ben Carter added: ‘We are delighted to work with Coronation Street to ”sell” a true British television icon like the Rovers Return.’
Johnny is one of a long line of Corrie stars to have held the keys to the Rovers Return, with some of the soap’s most legendary characters appearing behind the famous bar.
Iconic: Annie Walker was the first Rovers landlady and made her debut behind the bar in 1960
Legend: Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) became Corrie’s most iconic landlady thanks to her iconic look of leopard print and high heels, but decided to sell up in 1995
Famous: Natalie Barnes (Denise Welch) earned the Rovers’ keys in 1998, but faced backlash from locals when she tried to sell the pub to The Boozy Chain
Annie Walker (played by Doris Speed) was the first and spent 50 years working behind the bar, but retired from those duties when she departed the cobbles in 1983.
Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) became Corrie’s most iconic landlady thanks to her iconic look of leopard print and high heels, but decided to sell up in 1995.
Natalie Barnes (Denise Welch) earned the Rovers’ keys in 1998, but faced backlash from locals when she tried to sell the pub to The Boozy Chain, before the tavern was saved by businessmen Duggie Ferguson, Fred Elliott and Mike Baldwin.
Ahead of Johnny buying the pub in 2017 with wife Jenny, Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) had been the pub’s landlady alongside her son Steve (Simon Gregson), but decided to sell up after his turbulent split from wife Michelle.
Coronation Street continues tomorrow at 7:30pm and 8:30pm on ITV.
Corrie veteran: Ahead of Johnny buying the pub in 2017 with wife Jenny, Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) had been the pub’s landlady alongside her son Steve