Charlie Bracewell Charles " Charlie " Bracewell was a former ventriloquist on Alec Gilroy ' s books who Alec turned to when he needed a barman at the Rovers Return in January 1989 . Charlie was taken on with reduced wages in exchange for accommodation at the Rovers , until he found other digs . Described by Alec as the " wreckage of a once very fine artiste " , Charlie was an older man with a nervous disposition . He ' d given up showbusiness after fourteen years when he lost his partner in the act - his Pedigree collie and best pal Queenie , who had developed a wheezing and so Charlie ' s wife had her put down . On his decision to employ Charlie , Alec remarked that he was big in his day and so he was doing him a favour - and more importantly , he was cheap . Arriving at the Rovers , Charlie ' s appearance came as a surprise to Bet Gilroy and his fellow bar staff Jack Duckworth , Betty Turpin and Sandra Stubbs , as none of them expected an older man . Although he was kind and chivalrous , kissing Bet ' s hand and describing his arrival at the Rovers as like coming home , his shy and snivelling manner made them unsure what to make of him . Charlie ' s Rovers career got off to a bad start when he upset Percy Sugden . After correctly identifying him as an old soldier , Charlie talked about his National Service days , which ended when , after one year and two months , he was invalidated out of the army when a cookhouse sergeant had him and half the depot rolling in agony . Taking pride in his work with the Catering Corp in World War II , Percy took a dislike to Charlie and ignored him on subsequent visits to the Rovers . When Bet pointed this out to Alec , he didn ' t see a problem and remarked that he ' d have to ask Charlie how he managed it ! Although a capable barman , Charlie had a grim manner and kept relating to staff and customers tales of death , illness and divorce , such as the time he died twice , operated on by a surgeon who dropped dead two weeks later . With his stories making the customers cry , Jack Duckworth branded him a secret agent whose job was to seek out people who were finding life too much and push them over the edge . Bet soon realised that Charlie wouldn ' t work out but with Alec defending him against any criticism , Bet asked if he ' d won him in a raffle ! Charlie soon cast his eye over Betty , who he called a " fine figure of a woman " . Grilling Jack for information about Betty , he was pleased to hear that she was a widow woman , and began lavishing attention on her . Betty was initially flattered but his behaviour and incessant questioning started to creep her out . When he pinched her bottom , causing her to drop a handful of plates , Betty decided she ' d had enough and told Bet that either Charlie went or she did . Charlie tried to apologise , putting it down to his impulsive behaviour and lack of experience , telling her that her feelings would change when she got to know him . However , Bet too wanted rid of him , and with Alec refusing to hear of him being sacked , began concocting a plan to encourage him to move on . When Sandra made a remark that perhaps his talents would be more appreciated somewhere else ( Bet suggested Madame Tussaud ' s ) , Bet got an idea . Luring her friend Stella Rigby , landlady of the White Swan , to the Rovers with the promise of dinner on the house , Bet told Charlie that she was a very sweet person who was married to a swine and to make her feel special . Charlie followed these instructions to the letter , being polite , chivalrous , attentive , and making Stella laugh . When Bet left the room , Stella gave Charlie her card and asked him to look round if he was passing . Charlie wasted no time in paying a visit to the White Swan and was immediately taken on as a live - in barman . He made one final visit to the Rovers to tell Alec he was leaving , with his apologies .