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

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Top 25 Favourite Corrie Males - No. 13

EDDIE YEATS (90 VOTES)

Duration: 1974-1983, 1987

Played by: Geoffrey Hughes

2012 character poll position (men): 16

An old cellmate of Jed Stone who came to lodge with Minnie Caldwell in Christmas 1974.

A cheeky but lovable Scouser, Eddie was reminiscent of Jed with his dodgy dealings and mild criminality. Originally written out after going to jail, he was back on the street trying to redeem himself. He won the Ogdens around and became their on/off lodger before installing himself permanently in 1980.

He found regular employment as a bin-man or a ‘refuse collector’ as he called it just to sound impressive. 

His Liverpudlian charm and his way with words worked wonders with many being conned to buy dodgy and second-hand goods. For example Mavis bought a watch from him that immediately stopped working and Annie Walker bought a carpet with the initials AW on it, only to find out it was from the Alhambra Weatherfield bingo hall! But his lasting legacy was the ‘muriel’ he installed for the Ogdens in 1976. At first it was the Alps, but after Stan caused a flood they changed it for the Canadian Rockies. 

In 1982, he met Marion Willis and tried to impress her by pretending to own Mike Baldwin’s posh flat. But Marion was glad that he was a downtrodden bin-man as at least they were of the same class. Eddie proposed in 1983 and they had a shotgun wedding as Marion was pregnant. Stan and Hilda stood as proud substitute parents.

Eddie and Marion left for Bury during the Ogdens’ ruby anniversary party. Their daughter Dawn was born in 1984. Eddie made a brief return in 1987 to visit Hilda in hospital. In reality, Geoffrey Hughes wanted one last chance to act with Jean Alexander.

Were you a fan of Eddie?

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

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Eddie Yeats - a tribute

With the recent passing of Geoffrey Hughes, who played Eddie Yeats, I've paid a homage to the character through photos. As they say, a picture tells a thousand words.  

Included in the collage with Eddie are the Ogdens, Bet, Betty, Eddie's wife Marion, Ena and Minnie.

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Ex Corrie star Geoffrey Hughes passes away at 68

With great sadness, we announce the death of a true Corrie great - Geoffrey Hughes. Between 1974 and 1983 and in 1987, he played the loveable ex-con and binman Eddie Yeats. He passed away of prostate cancer. He had been living on the Isle of Wight.

Eddie is best remembered for his Scouse accent, his wonderful chuckle and for being Stan and Hilda's lodger in the early 1980s. A Rovers regular, he was responsible for installing the famous 'muriel' at the Ogdens' house and was involved in many schemes over the years - conning the residents on numerous occassions by selling dodgy carpets, watches and paintings. He was an unlikely friend and confidante to Bet Lynch and worked for a time as a labourer for Len Fairclough. Eddie left the street in 1983 with new wife Marion and their daughter Dawn was born in 1984. He did return briefly to visit Hilda in hospital in 1987 as Geoffrey Hughes wanted one last chance to act alongside Jean Alexander who was leaving the show.

As well as his role as Eddie, Geoffrey Hughes is also known for playing Onslow in  Keeping Up Appearances, Twiggy in The Royle Family and Vernon Scripps in Heartbeat.

Thank you Geoffrey for creating such a brilliant character, and rest in peace.

The BBC have a tribute to Geoffrey Hughes here.

Do you have any memories of Geoffrey? Did you ever meet him? Leave your comments and tributes below.

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Geoffrey Hughes - Corrie's Eddie Yeats - battles cancer

The Sun reports today that actor Geoffrey Hughes, who played Coronation Street's Eddie Yeats collapsed with pains at home on the Isle of Wight last Friday. And Doctors at Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital gave him the shock news that his prostate cancer has returned.

Geoffrey has never spoken about his cancer fight but has publicly supported cancer charities.

No Corrie return for Eddie Yates

It says here that Geoffrey Hughes, who played Eddie Yates, has turned down the chance to return to Coronation Street.

The reason they give is that that Geoffrey now lives on the Isle of Wight as a forester and didn't want to leave to work up in Manchester again. But it's interesting that he was asked, is it not?

Eddie Yeats made Deputy Lord Lieutenant

Actor Geoffrey Hughes, who played the lovable and wonderful Eddie Yeats on Coronation Street, has been made Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight. This is almost as bizarre a news story as Martin Platt launches his own range of cheese!

See also: Guess who would love to bring Eddie Yeats back to Corrie?

Geoffrey Hughes stars in Absolutely Frank

As loveable Eddie Yeats, Geoffrey Hughes played Corrie's bumbling oaf to a tee. I miss Eddie Yeats, does anyone else? Anyway, Geoffrey's gone to do all kinds of great telly work since leaving Coronation Street, not least including the wonderful part of Twiggy in Shameless. He's now starring on stage in a comedy called Absolutely Frank and there's a good interview with him right here.

Absolutely Frank runs at the Oldham Coliseum until February 21. More details here.

See also: Eddie Yeats - the 5th Beatle.