Rob Donovan - Gloria Price

Gloria Price, played by Sue Johnston, made her first screen appearance on 5 September 2012. Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported in early March 2012 that Coronation Street producers were looking to cast Stella Price's (Michelle Collins) mother. Kilkelly said Johnston was thought to be at the top of the producers' wish list. The character and Johnston's casting was announced on 2 April 2012 by series producer Phil Collinson. Collinson said he was "delighted" to welcome Johnston to the cast of Coronation Street. He added "She has been at the heart of the very best comedy and drama the UK has produced over last 30 years and will step into the heart of Coronation Street as her character, Gloria, takes up running The Rovers with daughter Stella." Johnston began filming her first scenes on 26 April 2012. However, two weeks later Johnston fell ill and scripts had to be rewritten. Johnston resumed filming in July and the date of her on screen introduction was changed to September.

Gloria arrived in Coronation Street from Spain, where she had been running a bar. She initially told her daughter she would be staying for a short time, but this eventually turns into a few months and Stella "becomes suspicious about what her mum has really been up to abroad and why she isn't returning." A writer for itv.com said sparks would fly between Gloria and Stella. Gloria will also have her eye on Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie) and Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers). The writer added "Larger than life, ballsy and outspoken Gloria will be in the great tradition of strong Weatherfield women who don't take no for an answer and live life to the full." Collinson thought Gloria was a "very vivid, brilliant character" and called her feisty and domineering. Claudia Connell from the Daily Mail praised the character, stating that she may fill the void left behind by Maggie Jones (Blanche Hunt). Connell commented "Brassy, mouthy and not afraid to dish out the backhanded compliments, she manages to upset the entire street within minutes of arriving–not least her own daughter.

Gloria arrives in Weatherfield to visit her daughter, Stella, and her granddaughters. When she learns that Stella has broken up with Karl Munro (John Michie), she tries to get them back together, but fails. Gloria soon takes over the running of The Rovers Return and enters a pub of the year contest run by a local magazine. She soon comes into conflict with Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) and Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) and later discovers that they have left negative remarks about her on their comment cards. Gloria flirts with Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie), much to his wife, Rita's (Barbara Knox), annoyance. She later helps Gail Platt (Helen Worth) out with a plan to test Lewis Archer's (Nigel Havers) loyalty to Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). Gloria tells Lewis that she is terminally ill and he keeps it a secret, while supporting her. Audrey finds out about the plan, but decides to not to tell Lewis about it. Gloria asks Lewis to run away with her, but he refuses. When he tells Stella about Gloria's illness, she reveals that she is fine and it was all part of her and Gail's plan. Lewis gets his revenge on Gloria, by helping to reveal that she has cheated in the pub of the year competition. Stella then throws her out and she leaves Weatherfield.

Gloria returns to Weatherfield with her new fiancé Eric Babbage (Timothy West). Eric hears Stella cast Gloria a "gold digger", making Eric have second thoughts about their wedding. He tells Gloria's youngest granddaughter Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) that he is calling off his engagement with Gloria and would much prefer it if Eva came with him on an upcoming cruise. Eva reveals this to Stella, who is appalled by Eric's betrayal. As Stella fills Gloria in on what Eric has been up to, Eva goes to tell him that she does not want to go on the cruise. After hearing Eva's scream, Stella and Gloria rush into the pub from the back room, where they all find Eric's dead body. It is revealed that he died of natural causes, leaving Gloria devastated. In March 2013, Gloria and Eva attend Eric's funeral. Gloria is shocked to learn that Stella is now dating much younger Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), and still stays friends with Karl, but keeps up her feud with Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati). When Stella tells her that Karl made a pass at her and tried to kidnap her, Gloria is horrified. She tells Jason, Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles) and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) in front of Karl, leading to Karl and Jason coming to blows in the pub. Stella then accuses Gloria of being too nosey. Gloria is horrified when the pub is set on fire and Stella is trapped inside. Karl runs in to save Stella, but they both become trapped in a bedroom. Fire fighter Paul Kershaw (Tony Hirst) manages to pull an unconscious Stella out of the building. Gloria goes to the hospital with Stella and tells her that she feels that she is the only good thing that she has done in her life. Stella regains consciousness, but Gloria tells Karl that fire fighter Toni Griffiths (Tara Moran) died in the fire. Jason comes under suspicion when people start questioning how the fire started, as he had been working on the pub's electrics. Jason tries to point the finger at Karl, which angers Gloria. The police inform Stella, Gloria and Karl that the fire was no accident and that the person who started it used a spare set of keys to gain access to the pub. They start to suspect Sunita, who was also trapped in the pub and in a critical condition. Sunita later dies and Stella gets angry with Gloria when she insults Sunita. Gloria tells Stella to find a way to apologise to her. When Eva goes on holiday to Ibiza to stay with her old school friend Mitch, Gloria gives her granddaughter £200 to spend while she is away. Gloria is then told by Stella and Karl that they could become homeless. She is then told that Stella is in a large amount of debt, and watches in horror as builder Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies) smashes up the repairs of The Rovers that he has already done. There is then a heated showdown between Owen and Karl, which ends with Owen threatening him with a crowbar, which Gloria, Stella, Norris and Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) all witness. Gloria then learns that Stella and Karl are engaged, and buys them champagne at the Bistro, and invites Rita, Dennis, Steve and Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) to accompany them. Owen and Anna enter and witness this, and Owen tells Stella she is going to sue her, even though Stella repeatedly tries to tell Owen that it was Gloria's money that paid for the champagne. The next day, Anna calls Gloria a "thoughtless cow" in front of Stella and Karl, which Stella shouts at Anna for.

The next week, Stella starts working at the Bistro as a cleaner, and is constantly being bossed about by Gail. Also that week, Eva returns from her holiday in Ibiza. Eva is shocked to discover that The Rovers has been put up for sale and that Stella has been working as a cleaner in the Bistro, and shouts at Leanne for letting her do so. That night, as the Price family sit down to discuss their next plan, Gloria makes a shock announcement. She explains to Stella, Eva and Karl that Eric left her £80,000 in his will, and that she didn't give it Stella because she wanted it for herself. Stella, Karl and Eva do not talk to Gloria the following day, so Gloria visits Owen at the builder's yard and offers him the £80,000 to clear Stella's debt and to pay for The Rovers repairs. Then, Leanne offers Stella £5,000 as well, so that means that Stella and her family only need to find £5,000 now. Gloria is now Co-owner of The new Rovers Return with Stella.