The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1997, by order of first appearance.
Janice Battersby
Brad Armstrong
Brad Armstrong is the son of Terry Duckworth (Nigel Pivaro) and Tricia Armstrong (Tracy Brabin). He is born on 14 February 1997 and named after Brad Pitt. Three months after his birth, his mother leaves with him.
Natalie Barnes
Chris Collins
Chris Collins is a mechanic played by Matthew Marsden. Chris, a former soldier, makes his first appearance in March 1997 when he arrives at Webster's Autos looking for work, and when Chris demonstrates his abilities, Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) gives him a job.
During his time on the Street and unbeknownst to his boss Kevin, Chris has a passionate affair with Kevin's wife Sally (Sally Dynevor). Sally takes revenge for Kevin's affair with Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch) by seducing Chris. He ends his relationship with Sally after she and Kevin get back together. Chris then has a fling with barmaid Samantha Failsworth (Tina Hobley). When he decides to leave Weatherfield, Samantha intends on coming with him and packs a bag for herself, but in the end Chris does not call round for her and leaves on his own without telling anyone. Chris's current whereabouts are unknown.
Carol Delaney
Nurse Carol Delaney, portrayed by Niamh Daley, was a nurse at Weatherfield General, and was also a good friend of Martin Platt (Sean Wilson). She first appeared as a nurse taking care of Alma Baldwin (Amanda Barrie) following a car accident after being kidnapped by Don Brennan (Geoff Hinsliff).
In June 2000, Carol told Martin that his mistress Rebecca Hopkins (Jill Halfpenny) was leaving for Dubai. He asked Carol where she was, and he headed to the airport and tried to make her stay, but Rebecca told him she did not want to split up his family, and left him. During the Christmas period, Martin shockingly discovered that Rebecca was staying at Carol's home. He tried visiting her for Christmas, but after seeing her kissing another bloke, he left.
Zoe Tattersall
Zoe Tattersall, played by Joanne Froggatt, made her first screen appearance on 19 May 1997. Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor auditioned for the role of Zoe, before being cast as the Battersby sisters, Leanne and Toyah.
Zoe is a troubled teenage tearaway. She has enough of children's care homes and runs away, living on the streets with her boyfriend, Liam Shepherd. The character first appears in the amusement arcade where Judy Mallett (Gaynor Faye) works. Liam causes trouble and one day Gary (Ian Mercer) throws the teenager out but he decides to blackmail the Malletts, threatening to go to the police. They need money as Zoe is pregnant. Judy, struggling with fertility issues, offers Zoe £2,000 if she will allow her and Gary to adopt her baby. Zoe is overwhelmed but accepts the offer, despite Gary's objection. The neighbours assume that Gary is the baby's father and Judy allows them to think that, deciding it would help if anyone asked why they had the baby. Zoe soon makes friends with Leanne Battersby and tells her the real story, including the payment.
The baby arrives and Judy wants Zoe to move on as she is showing signs of bonding with little Katy Joyce. Gary fraudulently signs the birth certificate as the father and Judy settles into new motherhood with Zoe resentfully looking on in the background. After the health visitor's first visit, Zoe is persuaded to leave but the Malletts tell people that Zoe stole some money and ran away but Leanne tells Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt) the truth. Leanne finds Zoe and persuades her to come back and clear her name.
Meanwhile, Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), working in the corner shop, develops feelings for Zoe. Finally, after the christening, Gary and Judy are so worried about Zoe that they plan to leave Weatherfield but Zoe snatches her baby with Ashley's help, renaming her Shannon. Zoe and Shannon move in with Ashley, Leanne and Nick and live together until Shannon is rushed to hospital with meningitis and dies. Zoe is devastated and has a breakdown, lashing out at her friends and neighbours, resulting in her being sectioned for a while. During this time, Ashley realizes that though he loves Zoe, he cannot give her what she needs but won't finish with her. When she is released from hospital, she comes back to live with him.