Idris Hopkins Idris Hopkins was the father of Tricia Hopkins , husband of Vera and son of Megan . Between mid 1974 and early 1975 , the Hopkins family lived at the Corner Shop which Granny and Vera ran , while Idris worked nights at the foundry . They left Coronation Street in shame after Granny attempted to blackmail the shop ' s owner Gordon Clegg over his illegitimacy . Biography . Welshman Idris Hopkins married Vera , a Lancastrian , and together they had one child , Tricia , born in 1957 . The family settled in Weatherfield where Idris got a job working nights at a foundry . Completing the quartet of Hopkins was Idris ' s widowed mother Megan , who had been taken in by Idris and family . Granny Hopkins ran a small chip shop and was effectively the head of the clan as Idris and Vera deferred to her judgement in matters which affected the whole family . In 1974 , Idris and Vera brought Gran to Coronation Street to view the Corner Shop which Maggie Clegg was putting up for sale . The Hopkins were looking for a new home and business which Gran and Vera would run together . Gran hatched a plan to drive down the price but in the end Vera had to break the stalemate between Gran and Gordon Clegg by suggesting that Gordon rent them the shop , with the terms worked out at £12 a week with the money coming off the purchase price of £3 , 500 , with £450 for the stock . The Hopkins then moved into the shop ' s accommodation . Idris carried on working at the foundry , leaving the shop in Gran and Vera ' s capable hands . However , the women found it difficult to work together and Idris was often asked to take sides in arguments . After three weeks at the shop , Vera got sick of her domineering mother - in - law and left to look after her ailing mother , returning after she passed away . Meanwhile , 17 - year - old Tricia had gone after the much older Ray Langton , and after seeing a polaroid of Tricia and Ray , Idris stepped in to warn Ray to stay away from Tricia . Ray assured Idris that Tricia ' s interest was not reciprocated and proved it by going after Deirdre Hunt in front of Tricia . In November , as an extra means of escape from the shop Idris started working part - time at the Canal Garage . A few weeks later , while emptying the Cleggs ' sideboard , Granny found a birth certificate which Vera subsequently admitted to Idris belonged to Gordon Clegg and gave away the fact that he was Betty Turpin ' s illegitimate son . With Gordon soon to arrive to negotiate the shop price , Idris and Vera assured Betty that her secret was safe with them and ganged up on Gran to reach an agreement with the Cleggs . Granny waited for an opportunity to use her knowledge to her advantage and in February she wrote to Gordon telling him the truth to spite Betty after she demanded a refund on an off - tin of mincemeat . The Hopkins were shocked when Gordon turned up at the shop brandishing the letter and told them that he ' d known for a while that he was Betty ' s son . When Granny threatened to tell the whole street , Gordon decided not to sign the final contract for the shop , despite pleas from Vera and Idris . The argument left Vera and Idris feeling too ashamed to remain in Coronation Street and the family left in a van that night . They settled in Vera ' s mother ' s house in Firbank Road on the other side of Weatherfield . Personality . Idris was a far milder personality than his overbearing mother . Weary of working night shifts , and the constant squabbles between Gran and Vera , Idris kept to himself at home and was dragged into arguments with reluctance . Despite his genial nature , he could be forceful when required , even being able to shame Gran into backing down . He was an advocate of workers ' rights and trade unions . During a poker match in 1974 , he commented favourably on Mark Brittain Warehouse ' s shop steward Peggy Barton ' s mission to have the workers ' union recognised , telling Ken Barlow that they spoke the same language . Background information . Welsh actor Richard Davies joined " Coronation Street " in 1974 when the Hopkins family were introduced as the new proprietors of the Corner Shop . Vera and Tricia had appeared in 1973 and were brought back full - time along with the newly - created Idris and his domineering mother Megan , known to the family as " Granny " . The Hopkins proved unpopular with viewers and , aside from Tricia , they left the programme in February 1975 . Idris , Vera and Granny last appeared in Episode 1467 . Quotes . " Oh , we don ' t need a lot of room so long as it ' s properly planned . Compact , that ' s the word , isn ' t it Trish ? " ( First line ) " Get in mam , we ' re going . " ( Last line , to Megan Hopkins )