Rita Tanner

In-universe information
In-universe information
Other names	Rita Littlewood; Rita Bates; Rita Fairclough; Rita Sullivan;
Occupation	Businesswoman; Newsagent; Belly Dancer
Father	Harold Littlewood
Mother	Amy Littlewood
Husband	Harry Bates; (common-law; until 1972); Len Fairclough; (1977–1983); Ted Sullivan; (1992); Dennis Tanner; (2012–2014);
Adoptive sons	Terry Bates (common-law)
Adoptive daughters	Doreen Bates (common-law); Sharon Gaskell (foster); Jenny Bradley (foster)
Stepsons	Stanley Fairclough
Grandmothers	Louisa
Uncles	Sam Littlewood

Rita Tanner
Rita Tanner
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by	Barbara Knox
Duration	1964, 1972–present
First appearance	Episode 415; 2 December 1964
Classification	Present; regular
Introduced by	Tim Aspinall (1964); Brian Armstrong (1972)
Spin-off; appearances	Coronation Street: The Cruise (1995); Coronation Street: A Knights Tale (2010); Coronation Street: Text Santa Special (2012–2013); Rita & Me (2014);
Other names	Rita Littlewood; Rita Bates; Rita Fairclough; Rita Sullivan;
In-universe information
Other names	Rita Littlewood; Rita Bates; Rita Fairclough; Rita Sullivan;
Occupation	Businesswoman; Newsagent; Belly Dancer
Father	Harold Littlewood
Mother	Amy Littlewood
Husband	Harry Bates; (common-law; until 1972); Len Fairclough; (1977–1983); Ted Sullivan; (1992); Dennis Tanner; (2012–2014);
Adoptive sons	Terry Bates (common-law)
Adoptive daughters	Doreen Bates (common-law); Sharon Gaskell (foster); Jenny Bradley (foster)
Stepsons	Stanley Fairclough
Grandmothers	Louisa
Uncles	Sam Littlewood

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 on-screen 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), Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell).