Barbara Knox, MBE (née Brothwood, born 30 September 1933) is a British actress, known for her long-running portrayal of newsagent Rita Tanner in the television soap opera Coronation Street. She first appeared as Rita Littlewood for one episode in December 1964, before returning to the show as a full-time cast member in January 1972, a role which she has continued to play for the past 46 years. Since the departure of her co-star and friend Eileen Derbyshire in January 2016, Knox has become the show’s second-longest serving cast member after William Roache.
Knox made her professional stage debut in 1962 at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, had a small role as a dancer in the 1969 remake of Goodbye Mr. Chips and appeared opposite Ken Dodd in his 1972 comedy series Funny You Should Say That. She won the 1989 TV Times Award for Best Actress for one of her best remembered storylines, involving the Alan Bradley character. In 2006, she won the British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership with Malcolm Hebden, having previously received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 ceremony. She was made an MBE in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours.