viv's parents are mo harris (laila morse) and stuart mullins, and is the result of a one-night stand; she is brought up by mo and stepfather jimmy harris (alex king), with little contact with her father. after leaving school at 15, viv meets charlie slater at a dance. they began dating and get engaged. after losing her virginity to charlie, viv becomes pregnant at 16. mo, believing charlie will not want to marry her, tries to force her to have an abortion; however, charlie proves supportive and viv gives birth to daughter lynne (elaine lordan). charlie and viv marry and viv goes on to have three more daughters: kat, belinda (leanne lakey/carli norris), and little mo (kacey ainsworth). as the girls are growing up, viv becomes a hard, bitter, cold woman. with the death of her stepfather jimmy, she has no fatherly guidance and resents the fact that she has no sons. she favours her oldest daughter lynne, whilst kat, belinda, and little mo all vie for charlie's attention, making viv feel second-best to her daughters.