Top BAFTA TV nominee Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire started her career as Coronation Street’s young barmaid of the Rovers – but do YOU remember her character?

Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire is now a household name, with two BAFTAs and an Olivier Award nomination.

Yet the TV alum comes from humble beginnings, as she rose to fame playing the Rovers’ young barmaid in iconic soap Coronation Street – but do you remember her character?

Sarah, 59, first took to the cobbles as Raquel Watts in January 1991 and stole the hearts of many viewers with her unique role until her time on the soap did not end in November 1996.

But she delighted fans again when she returned for one final performance in January 2000.

Raquel was a barmaid at the famous Rovers Return Inn, a very popular pub in Weatherfield.

Sarah, 59, first took to the cobbles as Raquel Watts in January 1991 and stole the hearts of many viewers with her unique role until her time on the soap did not end in November 1996 (pictured with Phil Middlemiss and Kevin Kennedy in 1995)

Before joining the Rovers, she worked in the Bettabuy supermarket, where she met her first husband Curly Watts, played by Kevin Kennedy.

And long before they welcomed a daughter, Alice Watts (Annabelle Tarrant), in their entwined relationship, Raquel saw Curly only as a friend, while he loved her from a distance.

Under the wing of Bet Gilroy (Julie Goodyear), she then joined the Rovers, where she spent the next four years pulling pints and taking on some occasional modeling assignments.

It wasn’t until Raquel’s on-off lover Des Barnes – played by Philip Middlemiss – continued to cheat on her repeatedly that the barmaid finally saw Curly with the same eyes.

Despite their mutual love, there was not enough stable ground for a marriage – and Raquel eventually left him in 1996 to work in aromatherapy Kuala Lumpur.

In a typical Coronation Street plot twist, Raquel only gave birth to Alice after breaking away from the supermarket manager, eventually moving to France as Armand de Beaux’s housekeeper.

She returned to the cobbles in 2000 after becoming pregnant with Armand’s baby, and asked Curly for an official divorce so she could marry Armand.

During her short stay, Raquel also informed Curly of his daughter’s existence, as he was completely unaware until that point.

In 1996, her role as Raquel earned her a nomination for Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards, although she lost to Dervla Kirwan.

Her beloved character was known for her naivety, but also became a mainstay of the soap.

Raquel is even mentioned in an episode later by Bet Lynch in 2002.

Bet admitted to Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) that she still occasionally spoke to an ex-barmaid, adding that she was happy with her French husband and children in a castle.

The actress built a respectable career in acting spanning some forty years and now plays much-loved police officer Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama Happy Valley.

She joins a star-studded cast including Steve Pemberton (Benidorm), Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abby) and Game Of Thrones’ Karl Davies.

Raquel had a long stint as a barmaid at the famous Rovers Return Inn, a particularly popular public house in Weatherfield (pictured in 2000)

While working at the Bettabuy supermarket, she met her first husband Curly Watts, played by Kevin Kennedy, and through their entwined relationship Raquel only considered Curly a friend, while he loved her from afar (pictured together in 1995)

When Raquel’s on-off lover Des Barnes (Philip Middlemiss) continued to cheat on her repeatedly, she finally saw Curly with the same eyes, but there wasn’t enough basis for marriage – and Raquel eventually left him in 1996 to pursue aromatherapy. job in Kuala Lumpur

In a typical Coronation Street plot twist, Raquel only gave birth to Alice after breaking away from the supermarket manager, eventually moving to France as Armand de Beaux’s housekeeper (pictured in 1999).

The actress built a respectable career spanning some forty years in acting and now plays much-loved police sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama Happy Valley (pictured on the show last year)

Speaking about the exciting role, Sarah said: ‘Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working buyer.

“She is also a grieving mother caring for her orphaned grandchild. It is an emotional, complex, challenging role. I’m terrified, exhausted and freezing, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”