Rhodri Marsden's interesting objects: The Ogdens' ceramic ducks

The ducks first appeared at number 13 Coronation Street in the late 1970s and became an icon of the show

Hilda's love of the ducks arguably cemented their reputation as a 'stereotype of lower-middle-class aspiration' (Rex Features)

* This weekend would have been the 100th birthday of Bernard Youens, the actor who played one half of British television's most celebrated couples, Stan and Hilda Ogden. His character spent a great deal of time sitting in his armchair studying racing tips while watched over by three ceramic ducks hanging on the wall, the second always at a slightly awkward angle. The ducks, which first appeared at number 13 Coronation Street in the late 1970s, became an icon of the show; they were even given their own square on the Monopoly board created in 2000 to commemorate the show's 40th anniversary.

* Hilda, played by Jean Alexander, loved them. "The sight of them ducks..." she once said, curtly and defensively, to a contemptuous Percy Sugden, "...well, they've kept me hand away from t'gas tap. And that's a fact." Despite that, her love of the ducks arguably cemented their reputation as a "stereotype of lower-middle-class aspiration".

* The Ogdens' ducks were nice examples (or good copies) of Beswick Pottery. According to the Beswick Price Guide by Harvey May, they appear to be three of a series of five Mallard Wall Mounted Plaques, designed in 1938 by a freelance artist, Mr Watkin, and produced in five sizes, from 596/0 through to 596/4. Post-war, affordable Beswick figurines became hugely popular, and these particular ducks were manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent right up until 1973. Fans of retro kitsch can now pick them up on eBay for around £50 a pop.

* The final appearance of the ducks on screen, on Christmas Day 1987, was watched by Coronation Street's largest-ever audience of 27 million people. "They're beautiful," said Hilda as she sipped a sherry alongside Sally Webster. "I just wish that middle one would buck itself up a bit"

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