Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Mystery about Sandra Gough solved

Very long time viewers may remember that in 1971, Irma Ogden Barlow vanished suddenly from the show, never to be seen again. In the media, there was a big to-do about it as nobody knew if Sandra Gough was fired.  

This week on the last episode of The Corrie Years, Sandra Gough revealed that she had wanted to leave for some time and was dealing with her mother's serious illness. She had enough one Friday, called her bosses and said she wasn't returning. She was surprised when the media took it up but clearly never corrected the misconception. She went on to other roles including one in Emmerdale.

Over on my State of the Street blog, there's a bit more and there's also a potted history of Irma Barlow. One of the photos shows Irma in 1964 with RDennis!


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9 comments:

  1. njblas16 October 2012 at 06:08

    I remember quite clearly the press reports of the time regarding Sandra's departure. It was stated back then (here in the Australian press at least) that she was dismissed via letter (by Granada) for unreliability - they claimed she had not turned up for rehearsals or filming on a number of occasions. What the exact truth of the situation was, we may never know, as it happened forty years ago. It's certainly very interesting to now hear Sandra's memory of events. She was an excellent actress and I loved Irma as a character.

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  2. Frosty the Snowman16 October 2012 at 07:58

    She left Emmerdale rather suddenly as well so I recall.

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  3. njblas16 October 2012 at 08:18

    I believe you're right Frosty. She played a character called Nellie Dingle for a year in 1995 before leaving, citing ill health. She had earlier played barmaid Doreen Shuttleworth in the same show for a spell in 1985. I remember also seeing her in a small role in an 80s film called The Dresser.

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  4. John McE16 October 2012 at 09:20

    I haven't bothered to watch this series of The Corrie Years, as I assumed it'd simply be the same old, same old clips (and if I see the Ken-Deirdre-Mike scene at the door once more time, I'll lose the will to live). But this story makes me wonder if I missed anything worth watching. Anyone?

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  5. Tvor16 October 2012 at 10:34

    I thought it wasn't bad, some new clips with a mix of things from old middle and new.

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  6. Anonymous16 October 2012 at 18:31

    I was interested to see the clip of Edna Gee going up in flames as she walked through the door in the warehouse, not seen that clip before on any of the corrie shows/DVD'S

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  7. Anonymous16 October 2012 at 18:33

    there are plenty more classic scenes and episodes which should be shared on DVD ,network should make more 60s, 70s , 80s and 90s DVDS !!... please !!!!

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  8. Anonymous17 October 2012 at 10:41

    Seconded!!

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  9. Unknown7 August 2018 at 12:19

    I say bring back Irma Barlow. She will have very little connection to anyone apart from Ken and if Emily reappears. Although bringing back Bet Lynch would help bring Irma back into the story as they were good mates at a time. Some of the golden characters would be a treat plus we need some Ogden blood back on the cobbles. Cheers for the post �� Janse, NZ

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