Tony Gordon

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Villain Overview Gallery

Evil-doer
Full Name	Anthony Gordon
Alias	Tony Gordon Mr. Gordon
Origin	Coronation Street
Occupation	Co-owner of Underworld Property developer Factory boss
Powers / Skills	Manipulation
Hobby	Extorting profits and causing mayhem
Goals	Kill Liam Connor (succeeded). Marry Carla Connor (succeeded, but later spilt). Cover up his involvement in Liam Connor's murdered. Build a family with Liam's widowed wife Maria Connor. Kill Carla and Hayley Cropper (all failed).
Crimes	Murder Conspiracy Kidnapping Unlawful imprisonment Bribery Extortion Harassment Jailbreak Unlawful possession of a firearm Trespassing Arson
Type of Villain	Homicidal Businessman

Tony Gordon is a major antagonist of the British soap opera Coronation Street, appearing as the central antagonist from September 2007 to June 2010.

In his characterisation, Tony is an ambitious businessman who became the first character to be romantically involved with central protagonist Carla Connor. They got married in 2008 until Tony discovered Carla's affair with her business associate Liam Connor, which in turn led to Tony having Liam killed in revenge; his secret was eventually exposed by Liam's widow Maria Connor and their relative Roy Cropper before he was jailed for his crimes. However, Tony escaped prison and took Carla along with Roy's wife Hayley hostage; he was initially aided by his prison cellmate Robbie Sloane, whom Tony later betrayed and killed during the hostage siege. The storyline ended with Tony attempting to kill himself and Carla in a factory explosion, only Carla escaped in the end whereas Tony was killed-off in the explosion.

He was portrayed by Gray O'Brien, who also played Rickston Slade in the Doctor Who Christmas special Voyage of the Damned.

Biography

Background

Tony Gordon was born in Scotland in 1971. He was followed by a brother named Patrick Gordon (or Pat for short). When Tony's father suffered a heart attack Tony didn't call the authorities and let him die, feeling his mother was better off without him. Tony grew up to be a successful businessman running his own clothing firm known as "Gordon's Catalogues". His first wife was called Lindsay, although the marriage fell apart due to Tony's controlling nature and Lindsay later having an affair with Pat, and the couple divorced prior to Tony's arrival on Coronation Street. He also knew the late Paul Connor, the first husband of Tony's future wife Carla.

Expanding his empire

Tony arrived on Coronation Street as a client at the factory Underworld. He developed an instant attraction to the boss Carla Connor, feelings which were returned and the pair began to see each other. Lindsay discovered the relationship and turned up at the factory and slapped Carla, warning her away from her "husband". Carla's brother-in-law Liam Connor didn't trust Tony and tracked him down at his house to spy on him, although was confronted by Lindsay. She revealed Tony is a control freak although she still has feelings for him. Despite Liam using this information to sway Carla, she refused to dump Tony. This led to Liam to propose to his girlfriend Maria Sutherland to make Carla jealous. Tony and Carla's relationship developed further and he moved in with her at the start of 2008, and the couple got engaged.

Tony bought Liam's share of the Underworld factory and used the opportunity to expand his empire, with the plan to retire early in his 50s with a vast fortune. He began development of the Victoria Court flats, although illegally killed endangered bats on the premises to avoid the project being stalled. This put Tony at odds with local café owner Roy Cropper. Tony planned to expand Underworld but needed to buy up the local businesses the Kabin newsagents and Kevin Webster's garage. Kabin owner Rita Sullivan considered selling so she could retire, although Kevin Webster flat out refused to sell his garage. Tony attempted to bring down Kevin by hiring Jimmy Dockerson to sabotage the business such as stealing the clients, although Kevin didn't budge. Tony gave up on the Underworld expansion after Rita decided against selling the Kabin.

Tony took over the properties of Nightingale Terrace with the intent to demolish them to build her luxury flats. He successfully evicted all tenants but one elderly man named Jed Stone (who coincidentally was a former Coronation Street resident), who fought against Tony's attempts to make him move. But Jed's age was against him when he suffered a stroke during a heated confrontation with Tony. Once Jed was hospitalised Tony packed up the old man's belongings, dumped his cat in the street to fend for itself and had the house boarded up. Despite his victory, Tony was unable to proceed with the development due to the 2008 economic crash, leaving Nightingale Terrace vacant.

Killing Liam Connor and aftermath

Tony began to suspect that Liam Connor was having an affair with Carla and hired Rosie Webster to spy on the pair, which resulted in her getting video footage of Carla and Liam making out. Not wanting to lose Carla, Tony planned to have Liam killed to prevent him getting in the way. He made a calculated plan on how to get rid of his love rival, and invited Liam to be the best man at him and Carla's wedding, which Liam reluctantly accepted. During Tony's stag night he had Jimmy run over a drunken Liam when he was crossing the road, which made it look like a hit and run accident and didn't make Tony look like a murder suspect. Tony cradled Liam's body although silently gloated to him over his success. It is discovered that same night that Maria is pregnant to Liam's baby, and is too late to tell him.

Carla became grief stricken over Liam's death so decided to call off the wedding and travel to Los Angeles on a break, leaving Tony unsure if the wedding would proceed. A few weeks following Liam's death Jed Stone returned to Coronation Street after being taken in by his former neighbour Emily Bishop, with a vengeful Jed warning Tony that they have unfinished business. This led to Tony to give money to Jed on a few occasions to keep him quiet. Carla returned and her and Tony got married at the beginning of December 2008. They went off on their honeymoon, unaware at the time that Maria got shown the footage of Carla's kiss with Liam by Sally Webster. When Tony returned he discovered Maria had been telling the street about him (correctly) being a killer, although everyone played it down to grief. Tony visited Maria and offered her a large sum of money to keep quiet, although she refused to back down.

When Jed caught onto Maria's accusations he formed an alliance with her to expose Tony. Jed confronted Tony in the factory although this ended up being the last straw as Tony strangled Jed out of rage and nearly killed him. Tony discovered the following morning that Jed survived, and decided to pay him off and relocated Jed to one of Tony's luxury flats in Wigan. Tony briefly returned Jed to the area in January 2009 to prove to Maria and the others he didn't murder Jed, which snapped Maria out of her "delusions" and made her move on from accusing Tony behind Liam's death.

But Carla became suspicious and tracked down Jed and found him with strangulation marks on his neck. Tony downplayed it by claiming Jed attempted suicide and he saved him and gave him a home out of pity. But after hearing Jed suffered a heart attack after being threatened (which was Jimmy Dockerson), Carla didn't believe Tony. She began questioning Jimmy at his garage over his involvement with Tony and although he didn't say anything he became unnerved. Tony caught onto Carla's investigation into him so sent the workers of he factory home and waited for her to return. He locked her in the factory and confessed to his involvement in Liam's death. In fear Carla fled town, leaving Tony behind.

Moving on

Following Carla's departure Tony was left to run the factory on his own, although she sent her old friend Luke Strong to run things in her absence. Tony wasn't happy with Luke's return and had him investigated by a private detective, who found out Luke was involved in debts. Despite being hostile to Luke, Tony made the effort to tolerate working with him and they even saved Peter Barlow and his son Simon from a flat fire.

Despite their previous problems, Tony and Maria developed a close friendship, especially as she began to view Tony as another victim of Liam and Carla's affair. Tony grew fond and protective of Maria although to the point of controlling as he wasn't keen on anyone else getting in their way. When Tony's new girlfriend Natasha Blakeman attempted to drive a wedge between them, Tony made a threat towards Natasha and sent her packing, scaring the woman who became unnerved by Tony's behaviour. Tony also caught onto Liam's cousin Tom Kerrigan having a crush with Maria and warned him off, and got Tom to sell up his share of him and Liam's company known as Ladrags to Tony. Tom grew jealous and sickened by Maria and Tony's closeness and closing him out, so left the area.

When Maria got far into her pregnancy Tony helped to support her. When going for a walk at the beach she went into labour, and Tony helped her give birth to a baby boy. She named the boy Liam, although gave him the middle name Anthony in honour of Tony. Liam's family were disapproving of Tony and Maria's close friendship especially as they realised they had a spark between them, with Liam's parents Barry and Helen making their feelings clear. After Barry and Helen returned to Ireland Tony and Maria entered into a serious relationship, and he moved in with her and left behind Carla's flat. On the first anniversary of Liam's death he proposed, which she accepted. Although the Connor family were angry, they later became accepting.

The week following the engagement the Christening of Liam Jr was to be held, although Carla made a surprise return to the area. She threatened to report Tony to the police unless he signed back his share of Underworld (as she had gotten her own share back from Luke, who had left the area) and leaves Weatherfield for good. Tony sent Jimmy to Carla's flat to kill her, although had a quick change of heart and race to save her. He witnessed Carla hit Jimmy over the head in self defence, and Tony tricked Carla by claiming she killed him. This forced Carla to return to Los Angeles, and Tony ordered Jimmy to leave town.

Downfall

A week following Carla's return (and departure) Tony suffered a heart attack owed to a hereditary condition. He is discovered by Roy Cropper, who gets Tony emergency help. Believing he is going to die, Tony confesses to Roy about his involvement in Liam's death. Tony makes a recovery although finds himself constantly questioned by Roy, who advises Tony to hand himself in. Although Tony claims he confessed to the crime out of guilt for having Liam as his best man, Roy isn't convinced and fully believes Tony had him killed.

Tony grows impatient with Roy's constant interference so threatens Roy and his wife Hayley (the latter whom works for Tony at the factory) causing them to temporally leave town. They report Tony to the police and although questioned he is released without further charge due to lack of evidence. Maria catches onto what is going on and begins to doubt Tony again and sneaks out of the house when she becomes unnerved by him. Realising his world is crashing down, he plans revenge on Roy and confronts the man when he is doing bat spotting at the canal, armed with a knife. A struggle occurs and Tony throws Roy in the canal after he admits he can't swim. Tony plans to let Roy drown to death, although has a change of heart and drags him from the canal.

Tony hands himself into the police and confesses to putting the hit on Liam, and gives Jimmy's name forward as the killer. Maria visits Tony in the jail and disowns him, telling Tony she hopes he rots in hell. Tony is held on remand at Highfield Prison where he is visited by Carla, whom he informs that Jimmy is alive. She tells Tony that Maria will never forgive him for his crime, and leaves Tony behind to face the music. He is given a life sentence for Liam's murder.

Over the next several months of Tony's imprisonment his mental state begins to deteriorate and he begins to plot revenge against Carla and the Croppers for ruining his life. He escapes the prison with the help of his former cellmate Robbie Sloane, and they take Carla and Hayley hostage at the factory, with Tony plotting to burn it to the ground in a murder-suicide. When Robbie begins to become concerned he turns on Tony, resulting in Tony shooting Robbie dead. Tony briefly takes Maria hostage when she comes to the factory looking for Carla, although lets her go not long afterwards. He releases Hayley from the factory after pleading from Carla. Tony sets the factory on fire with the intent to die with Carla, although she manages to untie herself and fights against him. Carla escapes the factory and although Tony has a chance to escape he decides to remain behind and is killed instantly when the factory explodes.

Victims

Murders

• Liam Connor - Hired to kill henchman Jimmy Dockerson to kill Liam in a hit and run.
• Robbie Sloane - shot dead

Attempted

• Jed Stone - nearly strangled to death in the factory. Decided to spare his life and make him leave town instead.
• Roy Cropper - tried to drown in the canal, although decided to spare his life.
• Hayley Cropper - planned to kill in the factory fire, although decided to spare her life and let her go.
• Carla Connor - first time tried to have Jimmy Dockerson killed her, although Tony helped save her life. Second time tried to kill her in the burning factory in a murder-suicide attempt, although she escaped.

Trivia

• Tony being sent to prison at the end of his storyline was originally the end to his character. However, as producers where impressed with Gray O'Brien and loved the character, they brought him back for a major storyline in which he burned down Underworld and ended up killing himself. The week of episodes depicting him holding the factory hostage was dubbed "Siege Week".
• Although not outright confirmed Tony appears to have criminal connections as he owned a handgun which he would use in the Underworld siege, and was also able to have a mobile phone snuck into the prison for him to use to communicate with Robbie Sloane.
• Gray O'Brien won "Best Villain" at the British Soap Awards in 2009 for his portrayal as Tony.