Rita Tanner (also Littlewood, Bates, Fairclough and Sullivan) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by veteran actress Barbara Knox, the character first appeared onscreen as "Rita Littlewood" for one episode on 2 December 1964, before returning as a full-time cast member on 31 January 1972. She is known for being something of a mother figure to a number of the street’s residents including Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett), Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews), Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor), Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell).