1978 saw several characters making their debuts on the British Soap Opera Coronation Street, including Ed Jackson, Ida Clough and Brian Tilsley, among others. Ed Jackson Thomas Edward "Ed" Jackson was one of two robbers who staged a robbery on Mike Baldwin's (Johnny Briggs) factory. Ed (known then as "Tommo") and his friend Dave followed Mike, and his wages clerk Ernest Bishop (Stephen Hancock) to the bank and then to the factory. They began to menace Ernest out of the wages he had been preparing. Mike began to wonder what was taking so long and opened the door, knocking Ed, causing him to shoot Ernest, who later died in hospital. Ed returned in 2005. He befriended Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) at church and began dating Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver). Ed divulged to Emily his prison background and subsequently revealed that he was responsible for the death of Emily's husband, Ernest. Emily expressed her disgust at this revelation and born again Christian Ed dramatically contemplated suicide, but Emily forgave him when he asked her for forgiveness. She gave him Ernest's old camera, and made him promise to send her Christmas cards, with a photograph of himself every year to show her he was alive and well. With that Ed left Weatherfield. Ida Clough Ida Clough (also Bulmer) was played by Helene Palmer. Ida first appeared in 1978 she was a machinist at Baldwin's Casuals and was always militant and behind anyone who wanted to strike. Over the years she worked alongside Ivy Tilsley (Lynne Perrie), Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn), Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) and Shirley Armitage (Lisa Lewis). In 1980, Ida went head to head with Ivy to become The union leader, but she lost out to Ivy. When Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) was charged with drink driving in 1988 it had been Ida who had reported him and Mike sacked her. Ida returned to the street for Ivy's funeral in 1995 and Mike agreed to take her back at the factory. This time she was working alongside Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle) and Sally Webster (Sally Whittaker). In 1997, when the Duckworths decided to renew their wedding vows in Las Vegas, Vera suggested they fly Ida out as a witness. Ida made her last appearance in Coronation Street in August 1998. Her final appearance saw her help her colleague, Hayley Patterson (Julie Hesmondhalgh), who Mike had sacked for being a transsexual,