High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Valerie Barlow (née Tatlock) was a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. The character was Ken Barlow's first wife and featured in the programme for nearly ten years before being killed by an electric shock when using a faulty electrical outlet in her home.Valerie Tatlock was born on 26 November 1942 to Alfred and Edith Tatlock, and grew up in Glasgow. Her uncle, Albert Tatlock, lived in Coronation Street in Weatherfield, and by the time of her visit in 1961 she was already a successful hairdresser. Valerie took up residence at Number 1 for a few months.