Coronation Street has given us plenty of surprises over the years. But a newly released clip involving the Duckworths takes things in a completely unexpected direction. It isn’t part of the soap’s official canon, but it features familiar faces in a futuristic setting. And there’s a twist that longtime fans won’t see coming.
A Private Sketch Meant for Royal Viewing
Former Coronation Street writer Daran Little recently shared a rare clip he wrote two decades ago. It was intended as a private viewing piece for the late Queen Elizabeth II. On social media, Little explained that the sketch had personal roots as his first boyfriend had been the Queen’s footman. That’s what prompted him to create the scene for her with some old Corrie favourites. “Part of something special I wrote for the late Queen to watch… set in 2055,” he noted.
The clip, never meant to be aired or included in the show’s official timeline, features Jack Duckworth (played by the late Bill Tarmey) in an imagined future, speaking to a reporter about his fourth lottery win. But the conversation quickly moves away from his winnings and into stranger territory, his domestic life has taken a turn few could have predicted. Sitting beside him is his wife Vera, played by the late Liz Dawn. Except, as Jack soon reveals, she isn’t quite who she appears to be.
Coronation Street: Vera, Version 2.0, And Then Some
Jack explains that he had Vera cloned after his first lottery win. Vera confirms the story, unfazed by the oddity of the situation. Jack casually mentions that the woman beside him is not the original Vera at all, stating, “Once you’ve had a clone, it’s no good keeping the original.” When the reporter asks how many versions of Vera now exist, Jack replies, “Twelve,” each one programmed to serve a particular purpose.
Jack goes on to introduce “drinking Vera” and “bedtime Vera,” the latter being a younger model that, he admits, was “slightly modified.” The sketch continues with the arrival of “cooking Vera,” who turns up at the pub and tells Jack that his dinner is ready. She sits beside him, leaving Jack wedged between two identical Veras. When “cooking Vera” begins complaining about slaving over a hot stove, Jack opens her robotic arm to reveal internal wiring and switches her off.
The short clip quickly attracted attention from fans, many of whom expressed surprise and amusement at the offbeat sketch. Despite the grainy footage, viewers were clearly intrigued by the concept and wanted to see more. It’s an ideal tribute, both to the late Queen’s affection for the show and to the charm of the Duckworths. Stay with Soap Opera Daily for more rare gems, behind-the-scenes reveals, and classic throwbacks from the world of soaps.