The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2009, in order of first appearance.

Martha Fraser

Martha Fraser, portrayed by Stephanie Beacham, made her first appearance on 26 January 2009. Beacham described her character as living a very solitary and lonely life. A set was built specially for Beacham's scenes, which meant, to her regret, she didn't get to appear in the Rovers.

Ken Barlow (William Roache) is walking his dog, Eccles, near the canal when the dog chases after some ducks and falls into the freezing water. As Ken tries to get Eccles out, Martha extends a fishing net from her boat and manages to save her. Martha offers Ken and Eccles a place to warm up, and Ken gratefully accepts.

Martha and Ken bond quickly over their shared love for literature. She tells him she has been living on a boat for seven years, ever since she split from her philandering husband. Ken confides in her about his troubled son, Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne). When Martha asks about Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid), Peter's mother, Ken tells her she is dead. Martha assumes that Ken is a widower, and Ken keeps quiet about his marriage to Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride). Ken visits her again several days later, and learns that she is now starring in a local production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

In March 2009, Martha and Ken finally kiss. Ken tells Martha that he is married on 2 April 2009. She is devastated and tells him to leave. However, he keeps pestering her to admit that she has feelings for him as he tells her that he is in love with her. Despite this, she isn't interested, especially when she discovers that Deirdre didn't know about their affair. Their relationship is discovered by Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls), after her ex-partner Ted Page (Michael Byrne), who had known about the affair, is forced to admit it. Audrey tells Ken's son Peter.

On 1 May 2009, Ken visits Martha again, where she tells him that she loves him too and they sleep together. As Ken is leaving, she tells him that she will soon be moving as she is working on a new play, and asks him to go with her. On 4 May, Martha is delighted when Ken arrives with a suitcase, saying that he is ready to join her. As she sails away, she looks back and sees Ken standing on the bridge; having changed his mind at the last minute.

Thirteen years later Martha returns to Weatherfield as part of a drama group, and ends up reuniting with Ken. Things are awkward between them, especially as Ken downplays the situation of what happened when they last met.

Sian Powers

Ben Richardson

Ben Richardson, played by Lucien Laviscount, first appeared on 2 February 2009. Ben was added to the cast of Coronation Street with Sian (Sacha Parkinson), they were friends of Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent), and formed a new group of teenagers with Ryan Connor (Ben Thompson).

Ben is the captain of his school's swimming team and embarks on a relationship with Sophie. He takes Sophie to the church youth theatre where she decides to become a Christian. In May 2009, he persuades Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) to return to school telling him he will stand up to Kenzie Judd and the other bullies if they hassle him again. On 10 July 2009, at Sally Webster's (Sally Dynevor) birthday party, Rosie (Helen Flanagan) winds Sophie up by flirting with Ben. Sophie flips and throws a drink over Rosie. However, her actions cause Sophie more problems when Ben tells Sophie he doesn't go out with drunk girls who fight, breaking up with Sophie but they eventually reconcile.

In November 2009, he stays with Ryan and Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) for a while when his parents go to Southampton. On 18 December, Ben kisses Michelle. He is dismayed by his actions and moves out, thinking it is for the best. Ryan is disgusted by this and he refuses to speak to Ben. Sophie finds out on 21 December and initially refuses to believe it, accusing Ryan of being jealous and by then fighting back, saying that Michelle has slept with several other men. She then realises what has happened when she sees Ben and apologises to Ryan for the things she said. Ben and Sophie's relationship ends and he leaves the street.

Luke Strong

Paula Carp

Paula Carp is the mother of established character Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh). She first appears on 27 February 2009, having a drink with her daughter and meeting old friend Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) for the first time in years. She surprises Eileen by revealing that she gave birth to Julie when she was only fifteen. Paula and Eileen meet several times at Eileen's house but Paula leaves quickly on one occasion when Colin (Edward de Souza), Eileen's father, enters as she feels awkward around him.

On 27 April 2009, at Colin's seventieth birthday party in the Rovers, Paula arrives, looking for Julie; thinking that Julie and Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) have slept together. Julie and Paula get into an argument over why they can't be together with Paula revealing that they are in fact, related and announces to a shocked Eileen and the rest of the pub that Colin is Julie's biological father. At first, Eileen blames Paula for wrecking her parents' marriage but then comes to realise that Paula, who was only 14 when she fell pregnant with Julie, was the victim. When Paula calls to see her a few days later, Eileen makes peace with her.

After Colin comes out of hospital, following a stroke, Paula goes to the police. When they come to the house he dies suddenly of a heart attack and Julie (who was getting to know and love her father) makes it clear she feels Paula is to blame and tells her to go away and never come back. In May 2013, Paula had broken her hip while ice skating, and Julie went to take care of her. Julie returned to Coronation Street in August, after her mother had made a recovery. In December 2013, Julie announced she rang her mother every Sunday and that she has a pet dog, that she often loses.

Umed Alahan

Umed Alahan first appeared in March 2009 to visit his nephew Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin). He soon became suspicious of Dev's girlfriend Tara Mandal (Ayesha Dharker), believing that she was taking advantage of Dev's money. Umed usually appeared in comical scenes, involving himself and his family.

In May 2009, Umed claimed that he knew and inspired the band Cornershop, giving them the incentive for the name as he has a history of running Indian corner stores. He also commented about the fact that their hit song, Brimful of Asha, was about Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle. Umed spent most of his time in the corner shop, which Dev owned; he also worked there. Umed usually spent his time chatting to his great niece Amber (Nikki Patel) or employee Molly Compton (Vicky Binns) while in the shop.

In October 2009, Umed installed a new bell at the corner shop, annoying and driving many residents to distraction. Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) managed to knock the bell off and break it while pretending to clean the windows.

Umed took pity on Teresa Bryant (Karen Henthorn) after Dev fired and evicted her, allowing her to make curry in Prima Doner, and managing to patch things up between her and Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles). When Dev found out about the curry business, Umed confessed to having lost his own business through a gambling addiction. He decided to return to India on 16 October 2009, giving Dev a hug goodbye.

Rick Peach

Rick Peach was a vicar who was involved in scenes with Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) and Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones). During Easter Sunday, he allowed people to bring their animals to the church, and Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) brought his rabbit. Blanche wasn't happy however after she stood in dog excrement, and accused Rick of using the animals as an excuse to get people to come to the church, Rick found this funny. Sophie revealed that she would be baptised by Rick as he had brought Jesus into her life.

During a memorial service on Christmas Eve 2010 in respect to the victims of a recent Tram Crash in Coronation Street, Rick was conducting the service. However it was interrupted with the return of Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) who was released from prison.

Connie Rathbone

Connie Rathbone was a close friend of Jack Duckworth (Bill Tarmey). She first appears on 17 April 2009, when she discovers one of Jack's missing pigeons and returns it to him. Connie and Jack get friendly as they chat about them both being widowed. As Connie's visits become more frequent, Tyrone (Alan Halsall) gets annoyed, seeing it as an insult to Jack's deceased wife Vera's (Liz Dawn) memory. In May, Connie invites Jack on holiday to Spain with her. Jack is afraid of what Tyrone will think of him and Connie going on holiday together, he lies and says he is going to Blackpool. In July, he visits Connie at her house and is amazed to discover that she is rich and lives in a lavish mansion. Tyrone is initially hostile towards Connie as he sees her as an insult to memories of Vera and believing she is after Jack's money, but realises this is not the case after seeing her big house. Jack moves in with Connie in September 2009 to give Tyrone and Molly more space.

In November 2009, Jack and Connie join Tyrone in the Rovers for a drink. After Connie leaves, Jack tells Tyrone he is worried that she wants more than companionship. Jack then hides out at Tyrone's until Connie catches up with him and reveals it is only a misunderstanding about her sleepwalking, much to Jack's relief.

Connie and Jack join Tyrone, Molly (Vicky Binns), Pam Hobsworth (Kate Anthony) and Bill Webster (Peter Armitage) for Christmas Day 2009.

Connie returns in November 2010 to attend Jack's 74th birthday party. After returning from his party at the Rovers, Connie, Tyrone and Molly discover that Jack has died in his sleep in his favourite armchair. Connie attends his funeral and goes to Blackpool with Tyrone and Molly to scatter his ashes.

After Molly's funeral and upon Tyrone discovering Molly's affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell), Connie tries to help and comfort him but his emotions get the better of him and a tearful Connie leaves the house. She has not been seen since. In December 2011, Tyrone received a Christmas card from Connie in which she says that he should visit her sometime. In December 2012, Tyrone lied to abusive fiancé Kirsty (Natalie Gumede) that he was going to visit Connie so that he could spend time with Fiz (Jennie McAlpine).

Ramsay Clegg

Ramsay Leonard Clegg is the long-lost half-brother of Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden).

On 15 May 2009, Ramsay (Andrew Sachs) comes to The Kabin looking for a 'Mr Norris Cole', and as Rita asks if he wants to leave a message, he leaves without speaking. He later arrives at the Rovers and Norris asks him to leave. Emily and Rita are very surprised but Norris accuses Ramsay of murdering their mother, saying that he still "had blood on his hands". Later, it emerges that Ramsay is Norris' older illegitimate half-brother, who was sent to Australia as a child. Norris blames Ramsay for their mother's death, claiming that the stress of him reappearing caused her demise.