Norman Harrison is a childhood friend of Marian Wilks and the former best friend of Peter Heskeith, who Marian used to be romantically involved with. He shared a drink with Marian in The Woolpack and was eyeballed by the regulars, including Jack Sugden, as he laughed about and insulted the village folk to Marian. Jack tried to pick a fight with him but he pushed Jack to the floor and left the pub. Marian's father, Henry Wilks, encouraged Norman to make a move on Marian and they kissed, but Marian insisted she wanted to take things slow. Norman later proposed to Marian but she turned him down.