Coronation Street Blog: Sue Nicholls reaches 3000 episodes as Corrie's Audrey

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of both Coronation Street character Audrey Roberts and Sue Nicholls, the actress who plays her. In some down time the other day I enjoyed some geekery on the fabulous Corriepedia website and realised that Sue has just celebrated a notable Corrie milestone.

This very blog recently highlighted the fact that Simon Gregson had reached the landmark of his 3000th episode as Steve McDonald. Now Sue Nicholls has passed the same mark as Audrey. To be precise, Corriepedia records that as of 9262 on 29th September, Sue has made 3002 appearances as Audrey. As we have noted here before, that means Sue joins a small and very illustrious group of actors which includes Bill Roache, Barbara Knox and her on-screen daughter, actress Helen Worth.

Sue first appeared as Audrey Potter on 16th April 1979 when Aud turned up for Gail's 21st birthday shindig in the Rovers Select. She instantly turned heads, bonding with kindred spirit Elsie Tanner and catching the eye of Rita's husband Len. The glamorous, flighty Audrey was initially at odds with our Gail and flitted in and out of her life during the early 1980s before finally settling down with greengrocer Alf Roberts in 1985. And Sue has been a regular fixture on the cobbles ever since.

An experienced actor long before she landed her most famous role, Sue Nicholls first made a name for herself as Marilyn Gates in Crossroads in the 1960s. Roles in Rentaghost, The Professionals, The Gentle Touch and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin followed before Weatherfield came calling. And I'm very glad it did. One of the few truly classic Corrie characters still on screen today, long may Sue continue to entertain us and long may Audrey be the voice of reason amidst the Platt family chaos!

To finish, here's some classic Audrey v Ivy from way back in 1980: