Anthony Stephens Anthony Stephens was a bookseller and the owner of Stephens Bookshop until 2001 . He became involved with Rita Sullivan in 2000 and moved into 12 Coronation Street the following year for several months until he moved to New Zealand . Anthony met Rita in July 2000 when she entered his bookshop in search of a genealogy book . Anthony helped her locate one and when they got talking , he asked about her singing career . They arranged a trip to the theatre , but Rita was shocked when Anthony told her he was a married man . She accused him of leading her on . He also told her that his wife , Isabel , was in Rose Gardens Nursing Home suffering from Alzheimer ' s . Rita , however , saw this as no consolation . He then revealed how lonely he was without his wife , and Rita reluctantly agreed to be friends with Anthony . Rita introduced Anthony to her friends Emily Bishop and Norris Cole and later shared a kiss with him . Rita later invited him to be her guest at Mike Baldwin ' s wedding . In October 2000 , Rita felt uneasy when Anthony told her he wanted her to meet his children , Gregory and Amanda . When they met Rita , they were curious about her relationship with Anthony and she suspected that they disliked her . Anthony and Rita later spent the night together when they stayed in a hotel in York after watching a play . Amanda made her resentment towards Rita clear on Anthony ' s birthday . However , he refused to stop seeing Rita to appease Amanda . Isabel ' s brother George Docherty later confronted Rita and called her a trollop . In November 2000 , Anthony had financial problems due to Isabel ' s condition . He realised he would have to sell his house in order to pay her fees . Rita then began to feel guilty about their relationship and ended it . However , they immediately reconciled when Anthony confessed to Emily how strongly he felt about Rita . He also decided to move in with Amanda after selling his house , but assured Rita that he would not let his daughter come between them . When Emily and Norris had dinner with Rita and Anthony on New Year ' s Eve , Amanda turned up unannounced with Isabel . The atmosphere was tense and Isabel confused . Rita was still adamant that she would not let Amanda put her off Anthony . Amanda , however , continued her warpath and accused Anthony of betraying the family . The tension between Anthony and Amanda made Rita suggest to Anthony that he should move into an empty No . 12 . He agreed and moved in in February 2001 . Anthony attempted to make amends with Amanda over dinner but she double - crossed him by arriving with George and Gregory in tow . They attacked him for betraying Isabel which caused Anthony to consider filing for divorce . However , Rita was against the idea and made her disapproval clear . Anthony invited Rita to dinner but they rowed before they ' d eaten . However , they soon made up when Rita realised she couldn ' t go on without him . In June 2001 , when Rita decided to visit her friend Mavis Wilton , she left Norris and Anthony in charge of The Kabin . Anthony felt patronized by Norris who insisted on training him . Anthony tired of him and told Norris that unless he changed his attitude he would have to find a temporary replacement until Rita returned . However , when Rita returned she found Anthony and Norris getting along like old friends . Later that month , Anthony received the news that Isabel had died . He felt guilty for not being beside her when she died , and Amanda told him that he was banished from the funeral . However , she reluctantly agreed to let him attend on the condition that he does not talk to anyone in his family . At the funeral , Anthony ' s sister Joan who had arrived from New Zealand spoke to him and he arranged to go back with her for a visit . He asked Rita to come with him , but she declined . He went alone and told her he may never return , leaving her devastated . In October 2001 , Rita received a letter from Anthony asking her to come to New Zealand , but she declined and ended their relationship for good .