Joe Makinson was a plumber who lived in Weatherfield in the 1960s. He had an on-off relationship with Christine Hardman which began in 1961 when he paid a plumbing bill in sympathy as the money was owed to his boss at Sharrocks by Christine's mother May, who had just died. Joe asked Christine out and was keen to see more of her despite being warned off by Christine's protective uncle Edwin.