Coronation Street Blog Interview: Veronica Doran

 

Veronica Doran spent eighteen months in the early 1980s playing Marion Willis in Coronation Street. Originally appearing as "Stardust Lil" a lady binman Eddie Yeats meets over the CB radio (which was all the rage at the time) they eventually met up and fell in love. Over the course of her time in the show, Veronica worked closely with legendary actors Geoffrey Hughes, Jean Alexander and Pat Phoenix.

I was attending a performance of Fenella Fielding's memoirs (she of Carry On Screaming fame) and I spotted Veronica at the party afterwards. I then contacted Fenella's friend and event organiser Simon McKay and it turned out Fenella and Veronica have been good friends since they worked together in the theatre in the 1980s. I was thrilled when Veronica agreed to an interview on her time in Corrie. And here's what she had to say..

First of all I'd love to know more about why and how you became an actor.

It was natural progression really. When I was 13yrs. to15yrs. old I was in a professional children's show "The Blackpool Tower Children's Ballet". When I left the show I wanted to be a comedienne and do the kind of work that Dora Bryan did. When I was 17 year old I went into Rep. at St Anne's on-Sea and that was the beginning of my acting.

Can you tell me more about how you came to be cast as Marion in Coronation Street?

My agent had a call from Granada TV. I read for the director and the casting director. Whilst I was waiting downstairs for my taxi to take me back to Piccadilly Station, the director and casting director came out of a lift, walked over to me, handed me a script and said "Something to read on the way home. You've got the part!”

 

Marion was quite a strong young woman I think. Did you enjoy playing her and if so, what did you like most about her?

Marion was very strong, patient, thoughtful and a little reserved I liked her a lot.

What was it like to work at the legendary Granada Studios back in the early 1980s?

It was terrific working at Granada in the 80's. We had a very big rehearsal room, two Green Rooms, one of which was a card players room. We had some very serious bridge players in those days.

You worked most closely with the late Geoffrey Hughes who played Eddie. What was he like to work with?

Geoffrey Hughes was very good to work with but, he could not think of enough things to make me laugh and when I go I go. Much to his delight!

 

In the early 1980s Coronation Street would still have rehearsal days. I've read that they could be quite daunting to be a part of - how did you find them?

I used to get nervous when I first started but, after a while you didn't have time to get daunted. We only had two days rehearsal and one technical run and that was for the cameras.

When you appeared in Coronation Street, many of the real legends of the series were still with the show. What are your memories of working with Pat Phoenix who played your landlady, Elsie Tanner?

I have many, many happy memories of Pat Phoenix. She was a lovely woman. Very kind with a big heart and she couldn't wait to help. After we both left the Street we stayed closely in touch. Right to the end and I miss her still.

One of my favourite Corrie actors from that era was Cheryl Murray who played Suzie Birchall. You worked with her when she returned to the show in 1983. What was she liked to work with?

Cheryl Murray came back to Coronation Street for six months while I was there. Her character Suzie Birchhall moved back into Elsie’s and the three of us worked very well together.

 

You also worked a great deal with that wonderful double act of Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander as Stan and Hilda Ogden. How did you find working with those actors?

When I first went into Coronation Street I used to go into the rehearsal room to watch Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander run their scenes. Their timing was wonderful, especially Jean. That comedy is either in you or it's not. You can develop it but you can't learn it.

Marion was written out when Geoffrey Hughes decided to leave the programme. Would you have liked to have stayed in the role longer or were you glad to do other work?

I would have loved to have stayed in the show longer but, Geoffrey wanted to leave. So it was decided to marry us and of course Marion was pregnant and send us to live with her mother in Bury. But then I went off to do a lot of other work. So that was great.

If you had to choose a favourite role, whether it be on stage or screen, what would it be and why?

There is no longer one particular part I burn to play. But there are still lots of people I should like to play.

Finally, what's next for you?

Although I have never left the business. I cared for my mother for a while. After she died I did several filmed interviews about various things. But the job I enjoyed most was celebrating my friend Fenella Fielding’s birthday on her radio show. It was a good party!

I'd like to thank Veronica for answering my questions on her time in Corrie and sharing so many fond memories. Thanks also to Simon for helping to set up the interview.

You can follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82

---

Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Top 25 Favourite Corrie Males - No. 15

STAN OGDEN (85 VOTES)

Duration: 1964-1984

Played by: Bernard Youens

2012 character poll position (men): 10

Henpecked husband of Hilda and resident Rovers supper.

After years of being a lorry driver, he spent his time on the cobbles drifting from one job to another: milkman, ice cream van driver, labourer and most famously window cleaner.

The Ogdens’ marriage was one of the street’s most solid, despite their public and private arguments. They were a source of comedy in the show for years, but they also starred in many poignant and heart-wrenching moments. Despite it being over 30 years since they last appeared together, Stan and Hilda are still fondly remembered.

Stan was often ridiculed by the menfolk of the street for being henpecked and lazy, often complaining of a bad back. The likes of Ray Langton and Len Fairclough enjoyed stirring it so Stan could get into trouble with Hilda. A recurring joke between 1968 and 1983 was Stan’s relationship and possible affair with Clara Regan in 19 Inkerman Street! 

Stan was in heaven in 1976 when he was locked in the Rovers cellar all night with Albert Tatlock. Hilda was not a happy bunny when she found out she had been sick with worry all night and her husband was more than merry in the morning!

When Eddie Yeats moved into the street, he befriended the Ogdens and later lodged with them and soon enough Stan was embroiled in Eddie’s dodgy schemes. Examples include Eddie selling beer in an ice cream van and of course the installation of hens in the back yard.

Bernard Youens’ ill health was reflected on-screen. While it wasn’t addressed that Stan had suffered strokes, his speech was slurred from 1976 onwards and by 1983/4, his dialogue was reduced greatly due to difficulty understanding him. 

Stan passed away in 1984, sadly the same year when he could actually do nothing as he received a state pension. When Hilda received his glasses, she finally broke down in what is one of the show’s most poignant moments. Stan's death was written in due to Youens' death.

A fan of Stan?

Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog

Download our free App | Visit Corrie.net


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Corrie - Friday's fantastic photo - June 12, 09

Look very closely at today's fantastic photo. There's something very odd about it, but what could it be? Here's Hilda Odgen in 1971, nagging Stan who's just lost another job. Nothing unusual that, I hear you say. And you'd be right!

The reconfiguration of No.4's interior a couple of years back, caused outrage amongst many Coronation Street fans, but Ashley and Claire Peacock's staircase wasn't the first one to mysteriously move. Oh no, siree. If you take a real, close look at this shot, you will see that the Odgens' staircase and doorway to the front parlour have swapped to opposite sides of the hallway - and for no apparent reason either! And then, as if by magic, it all moved back again a couple of months later. Weird.

Another staircase to move was the one in the Rovers, but whilst the actual layout (and size) of the pub interior has always been highly questionable - not to mention fluid - at least that move was included as part of the post-fire storyline in the mid-1980s. [Sky Clearbrook]