4. Hilda Ogden 1964-1987 (174 votes)
A
true soap icon. Despite it being 25 years since she left, Hilda Ogden still has a place in our hearts and to reach No. 4 is a great feat. On our screens for 23 years, she was leading the soap through
its golden age during the late 70s and early 80s. Married to Stan for 40 years,
Hilda was known for her curlers, her pinny and headscarf and her warbling
singing voice while cleaning and for symbolising the working-class women of
Northern England. Hilda and hubby Stan were inseparable, even though life was
hard and they constantly bickered. She was a ‘professional cleaner’ throughout
her tenure and was employed as the Rovers’ cleaner. Her job was the perfect
opportunity to find gossip and be a busybody. She constantly clashed with boss
Annie Walker, who looked down on her and Stan but Hilda wasn’t afraid to hit
back. As well as Annie, she had catfights with next-door neighbour Elsie Tanner
and even accused Elsie of having an affair with Stan! Living at 13 Coronation
Street proved unlucky for the Ogdens but it was Hilda’s palace – more so when a
'muriel' was installed and three flying ducks. By 1984, Hilda’s life changed as
the people she was involved with during her time on the street left or died.
Annie Walker retired to Derby, Elsie Tanner left for Portugal and Stan’s health
deteriorated and he sadly died, leaving Hilda heartbroken. After Stan’s death,
her soft touch came through when she provided a home for young Kevin Webster
and later his wife Sally. Hilda left the street in 1987 to housekeep for Dr
Lowther and her neighbours gave her a decent send-off on Christmas Day. Her
swansong was Gracie Fields’ Wish Me Luck
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