Jack Rowe was a friend of Dave Barnes. Dave was looking for Ken Barlow, angry and jealous of the reading and writing lessons that Ken was giving to his illiterate wife Karen and took Jack to the Rovers so that he could point him out to him. After a wait of some time, Ken came in from a party at 11 Coronation Street and, after Jack's identification, approached Ken, telling him not to mess about with his missus. He told Jack that Ken was gutless and knew what would becoming to him, should he continue to see Karen.