List of Coronation Street characters introduced in 1996

Stephen Reid (also Potter) is the son of Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). Audrey's father insists that she give Stephen up for adoption after she givea birth to him at 16 years old. Malcolm Reid (Shane Rimmer), a neighbour and former boyfriend of Audrey, adopts Stephen and later emigrates to Canada with him.

Stephen arrives in Weatherfield to get to know his biological mother and to carry out some business for his firm, KBec, with local tycoon Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). During his stay, Mike's wife and Audrey's best friend, Alma Baldwin (Amanda Barrie), becomes besotted with him and makes her feelings clear, but Stephen is not interested and returns to Canada once his work is completed.

Stephen's nephew, Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt), later went to stay with his uncle in Canada for several months after causing trouble for his mother, Stephen's half-sister Gail Platt (Helen Worth), and adoptive father, Martin Platt (Sean Wilson). In 1999, following the break-up of his marriage to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Nick again turned to Stephen, who offered him a job in Canada. Over the years, Audrey maintained regular contact with Stephen and visited him many times. Gail's third husband, Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), also took her to Canada for an impromptu visit at Christmas 2001.

On 10 December 2007, Stephen returned to Weatherfield to spend Christmas with Audrey ''en route'' to Italy, where he intended to expand his business empire into Europe. On 14 December, Stephen invited his youngest nephew, David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), to join him in Italy. David accepted, much to the disappointment of his niece Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien), David's half-sister.

On 21 December, David's ambitions were ruined after Sarah bought some ecstasy tablets from a drug dealer in Leanne's restaurant, Valandros, and planted them in David's drawer at Audrey's Salon. Audrey discovered the pills, and after deciding David was a troublemaker, Stephen left Weatherfield on Boxing Day. Sarah and her daughter, Bethany (Emily Walton), joined him four days later. Gail visited them in June 2008. In 2015, Stephen fired Sarah over the phone when she failed to email him an urgent report.

In 2022, it was reported that Stephen would return as part of a 'long-term' storyline. Boyce reprised his role in the episode broadcast on 24 June 2022. In September 2022, Stephen accidentally killed Jenny Connor's boyfriend, Leo Thompkins (Joe Frost), after the latter confronted him about his true financial situation. In January 2023, Leo's father, Teddy Thompkins (Grant Burgin), regained his memory after being hit by a van. He became suspicious of Stephen and threatened to call the police. Not taking any chances, Stephen hit Teddy over the head with a hole punch, killing him. He later killed business rival Rufus by drugging him and drowning him in his own pool, making it look like an accident.

In October, Stephen planned to flee the country as the police closed in on him. After attacking Tim Metcalfe, who had grown suspicious of him, and leaving him for dead, Stephen headed for the airport upon realising his partner, Jenny, was also suspicious of him. At the airport, Stephen realised he did not have his passport and returned to Weatherfield, hiding in the closed Rovers Return. Jenny and Sarah met in the pub, where, to their horror, Stephen appeared and knocked Sarah out. After admitting to Jenny that he killed Leo, Teddy, and Rufus, Stephen took her hostage in the street as horrified residents, including Audrey, looked on. Stephen ordered David to bring him his car but then had a change of heart and decided to set Jenny free. Moments later, Stephen was run over by a taxi driven by Peter Barlow. Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell) administered CPR, but despite all efforts to save his life, Stephen succumbed to his injuries and died, leaving Audrey heartbroken. Provided by Wikipedia