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A tribute to Blanche
A tribute to Maggie Jones
By Melissa Welliver
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Coronation Street star Maggie Jones, her best known alter ego being sharp-tongued Blanche Hunt, died at the age of 75 on Wednesday 2nd December 2009. Maggie’s character’s cutting remarks and witty comments had established her as a loved favourite amongst all Corrie fans. Salford Cathedral is holding a memorial service on Thursday 25th February, so I have taken this opportunity to look back on the lady who brought us Blanche.
Born in the heart of Yorkshire, Maggie Jones first trod the cobbles in 1961, it also marking her first TV appearance after a long run of West-End shows. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada), and played a policewoman in her first episode. Almost a decade after her PC Plodds scene, Maggie returned to Weatherfield as an inebriated shoplifter.
"Good looks are a curse, Deirdre. You and Kenneth should count yourselves lucky."
But after appearing in several shows (in a guest role) such as, Peak Practice and Heartbeat in the ‘90s, she reprised her role as Blanche in 1996. Maggie was then a regular cast member until October 2009 when she was written out to undergo major surgery for what has now been revealed as cancer.
In 2005 and 2008, the actress won a British Soap Award for best comedy performance in a British soap. Her most withering remarks were usually saved for her daughter and son-in-law Ken and Deirdre Barlow:
“Good looks are a curse, Deirdre. You and Kenneth should count yourselves lucky.”
This article was written by Melissa Welliver and was uploaded at 3:55am, Saturday 20th February 2010.
It was posted in LS2 » TV » A tribute to Blanche