Rita Tanner (also Littlewood, Bates, Fairclough and Sullivan) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Played by veteran actress Barbara Knox, the character first appeared on-screen as "Rita Littlewood" for one episode on 2 December 1964, before returning as a full-time cast member on 31 January 1972.

Although having no children of her own, Rita is known for being something of a mother figure to a number of the street’s female residents, including Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett), Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews), Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor), Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell).

The producers of the show decided to pair Rita with Mavis Riley portrayed by Thelma Barlow by giving Mavis a job in Rita's newsagents shop; the characters' relationship has been described as a chalk and cheese comedy partnership. Christine Geraghty has cited Rita and Mavis' friendship as an example of a soap opera portraying an important, stable, intimate female relationship: "Rita is Mavis's boss, but she is also one of her closest friends".^{[citation needed]}

Prior to 2006, Knox was reportedly the highest-paid actress with the show, until Anne Kirkbride began to earn more.^[1] Knox's salary is £260,000 a year which producers pay to keep her in a secure future with the series.

In January 2009, it was speculated that Knox and other veteran actors were going to be axed from the show in a bid to save money but this was later denied by a Coronation Street spokesman. Knox was temporarily written out of the series in August 2009 for health reasons. She returned to the show on 15 March 2010. Her character was said to be on a world cruise with friend Doreen Fenwick, after selling her share of The Kabin to Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden).

In April 2010 a spokesman for Coronation Street announced that Knox has a job for life on the show and that she will continue to play her character Rita for as long as she wants to be there.^[1][2][3]

In May 2011, a Daily Mirror reporter announced that Rita and Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) would become love rivals, following Dennis Tanner's (Philip Lowrie) return.^[4] Lowrie hinted at a possible relationship between Dennis and Rita, saying "I asked Barbara Knox, who plays Rita, how many husbands has she had? She said three, so there might be a fourth, you never know!"^[5] Rita and Dennis begin a relationship and series producer Phil Collinson stated "Rita genuinely loves Dennis very much. Their storyline harks back to 1964, when he looked after her and took her in. Now he's grown to love her because she's been able to look after him. I like that we can tell a love story of people in their 70s, and it's a relationship that we're really committed to. I'd love for Rita to have a wedding, so watch this space! And if we did have one, she'd be Mrs Tanner – how great is that?"^[6] Collinson later revealed Rita and Dennis would get married and their wedding would coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.^[7]

In August 2017, the character was involved in a storyline which saw her diagnosed with a brain tumour. Many of the show's fans were devastated by the idea that such a beloved and iconic character might be killed off. The storyline received a lot of media attention and criticism from the viewers, as it began shortly after the death of Ashley Thomas, a character from fellow ITV programme Emmerdale, who had a seemingly similar diagnosis. Within days of the storyline being introduced a "Save Rita" campaign was set up online and attracted over 500 signatures. A spokesperson for Coronation Street later denied that the character was going to die, and confirmed that Knox remains very much part of the show.

In December 2019, it was reported that Rita would feature in a big storyline over Christmas.^[8] Producer Ian Macleod relished the chance to give Barbara Knox the spotlight after all of these decades in Weatherfield. "It's a really good story actually and Barbara Knox, as is always the case, if you give her something big to do she nails it," he said. "I'm not saying that with any hint of surprise in my voice, she's been doing it for decades. She's so good at it and it's a great story. She's embraced it with the gusto you'd expect from someone who's been doing it for so long."^[9]

Rita is first introduced in 1964 as singer Rita Littlewood, when she briefly becomes involved with Dennis Tanner. She returns in 1972 and begins an on-off relationship with Len Fairclough, becoming a regular character. After working as a nightclub singer, Rita takes over management of The Kabin, which becomes central to her character for decades. She and Len marry in 1977, but their relationship is often turbulent. They later foster children, most notably Sharon Gaskell, before Len is killed in a car accident in 1983, leaving Rita devastated.

In the mid-1980s Rita fosters Jenny Bradley, bringing her into contact with Jenny's father, Alan Bradley, with whom she begins a relationship. Their relationship becomes one of Rita's most significant storylines as Alan is revealed to be manipulative, financially dishonest and violent. After stalking Rita and attempting to force her to return to him, Alan is killed by a tram in 1989. Rita's bond with Jenny remains an important part of her story in later years despite repeated estrangements and reconciliations.

In the 1990s Rita marries Ted Sullivan, who dies only a few months later, leading to a legal dispute with his family over his estate. During this period she remains a prominent figure through her friendship with Mavis Riley, her long association with The Kabin, and her role as one of the Street's most established residents. Her friendship with Bet Lynch also becomes a notable part of her story, though it ends bitterly when they fall out over Bet's attempt to buy the Rovers.

In later years Rita is involved in relationships with Alec Gilroy and, later, Dennis Tanner, whom she marries in 2012 after his return to the programme. The marriage ends when Dennis leaves her for Gloria Price, though he later returns and Rita refuses to reconcile with him. Rita also becomes a maternal figure to younger characters including Tina McIntyre, Gemma Winter and, again, Jenny.

Rita remains central to several major later storylines, including surviving the 2010 tram crash when The Kabin is destroyed, and a 2017 health storyline in which fears that she has dementia lead to the discovery of a brain tumour. After successful surgery, Rita remains a regular presence in the programme and in storylines involving her family and friends.

Knox won the 1989 TV Times Award for "Best Actress". At The British Soap Awards 2004, she was presented with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for her portrayal of Rita.^[10] The 2006 ceremony saw Knox and Malcolm Hebden, who plays Norris, win the award for "Best On-Screen Partnership."^[11] Knox was nominated for "Best Serial Drama Performance" at the National Television Awards 2018, losing out to her Coronation Street co-star, Lucy Fallon, who portrays Bethany Platt.^[12] She is a fan favourite amongst the viewers (in 2010 she was voted the 5th best character of all time^[13]).

• Rita Tanner at itv.com