Sherrie Hewson played Maureen Webster (was Holdsworth, Elliot, Naylor, nee Grimes) in Coronation Street from 1993 to 1998 and again in 2006.
Since leaving Coronation Street, Sherrie has gone to play wonderful comedy roles including the iconic Joyce Temple-Savage in Benidorm. She's also starred in Are You Being Served as well as a long stint on the Loose Women panel for ITV. She also turned up in Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 and is a regular in pantomime too.
Sherrie appeared as part of the regular cast of the ITV comedy Barbara (1999-2003) and, from 2001-2003, appeared in the short-lived revival of Crossroads, followed in 2004 by a two-year stint in Emmerdale.
A fleeting return for just two episodes to Coronation Street took place in December 2006.
Also, for one week in 2011, Sherrie took to the stage of the Palace Theatre, Manchester, to fill the role of Narrator in Jonathan Harvey's hit play Corrie!, as part of its national tour.
It was on this Blog last month that I discovered Simon Gregson is offering
personalised video messages for fans.
My Dad had his 70th birthday coming up and unfortunately we
knew he'd be spending his big day in hospital. I thought I would check
out the Celebrity Video Messages website with a view to cheering my Dad up with
some birthday wishes from the actor who portrays one of his favourite Corrie
characters.
You pay your 30 quid and order a message from the celebrity of your
choice, submitting a basic script of key information to be delivered in front
of the camera and then you get an email when it has been recorded. It sounded
like a bit of fun so I gave it a go. A proportion of the proceeds go to charity
too.
They say most videos are turned around within one to two weeks.
Mine took 24 hours! I have to say that I was very pleased with the result and
my Dad was delighted when I played it to him on the ward. I didn’t tell him
that I paid for it but created an air of mystery. Perhaps he thought it all came about through my Corrie blogging connections...
Here is the video. It looks like a Vlog directed by Sarah Platt but the content is great!
Anyway, I am pleased to say that my old man is out of hospital and
recovering well after his operation – and he’s got a copy of his video message
to keep for posterity.
There are a few Corrie actors – past and present – on the CelebVM books.
They will all set you back 30 notes. Well, except for Adam Rickitt – you get a
fiver off for him.
It’s my birthday in August and I’ve already told my nearest and
dearest that they could do far worse than order up a customized,
personalized, and unique video message from my favourite character, Peter Barlow. Toodle-pip!
Sherrie Hewson left ITV's Loose Women today after 14 years on the show. There were tears, lots of tears - and also a bit of a treat.
Sherrie, who played Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street, was surprised on Loose Women when Kevin Kennedy, who played Curly Watts turned up to wish her goodbye.
Maureen and Curly once spent the night together, an unlikely pairing if ever there was one...
You can watch Sherrie's reunion with Kevin here - they chat about the old times on Coronation Street. When asked if they would like to go back into Coronation Street, Kevin Kennedy said he would, yes. "I'm doing The Commitments at the moment," he said, "But then we'll see what happens!"
The Advent season is upon us once again, and the ITV Coronation Street website are releasing classic clips of classic Corrie Christmases of bygone years.
Today, they're going back 8 years to Christmas Day 2006. Here's what the website says:
"During a very packed Christmas dinner at the Platt's in 2006, David took great delight in telling Maureen how Bill had been having an affair with Audrey!"
David at his best here with his teenage haircut!
To the see the video, click here. For people outside the UK, the clip is featured in this YouTube video (at 11:21).
For a synopsis and info of the episode (Episode 6455) on Corriepedia, click here.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
Due to lack of space, Tanya Pooley fails to make the top 12, but also appeared in 91 episodes.
Average age: 45
Note: To date, this is the last time Bet appears in the top 12, after 21 years. Also, this is the last time, to date, that Curly, Maureen and Reg appear.
40. Alan Bradley and Rita Fairclough, 1986-1989 (26 votes)
Alan was introduced in 1986 as the father of Rita’s foster daughter Jenny and soon enough was dating Rita. Rita was attracted to him as he reminded of her deceased hubby Len. Unsure of their relationship, Alan embarked on an affair with Gloria Todd, but reunited with Rita when he considered how much money she had. They courted and when Rita rejected both his marriage proposals, he planned revenge – stealing her money.
For many months, Alan stole from an oblivious Rita. When Rita found out and confronted Alan, he attempted to suffocate her with a cushion, only to be disturbed by Jenny and her boyfriend Martin Platt. Alan fled and when he was caught, he appeared in court, but was released that day and planned further revenge on Rita – stalking her and mentally tormenting her. Horrified, Rita fled to Blackpool and Alan followed her there. When she saw him on the promenade, she ran and he followed her, only to be fatally hit by a tram, ending Rita’s nightmare.
Did you watch Alan’s demise? Did you enjoy Alan and Rita’s relationship before he became a villain? Should they be at 40?
39. Reg Holdsworth and Maureen Naylor/Holdsworth, 1993-1995 (27 votes)
Reg Holdsworth first met Maureen Grimes in Llandudno in 1968 and they fell in love. It would be 24 years before they would meet up again. Maureen was stacking shelves at Bettabuys, where Reg was manager. They reignited their relationship but there was one problem: Maureen’s mum Maud. Maud disliked Reg and the feeling was mutual. Maureen had to play mediator between her mum and her boyfriend. Reg was desperate to consummate the relationship and a memorable scene is when he lured Maureen to his waterbed. Comically, it flooded after Derek Wilton accidentally drilled through it.
They married in 1994 and bought the Corner Shop from Alf Roberts. Maureen managed the shop with Maud behind the counter and the three lived in harmony – Reg a member of the Square Dealers and Maureen a pillar of the community. Only after a year, the marriage turned sour as Reg was posted to a Bettabuys in Lowestoft. While there, due to his unfaithful nature, he found another woman – Yvonne Bannister. Reg left Maureen for Yvonne – who was pregnant with his child.
Were you fans of Reg and Maureen? Should they be at 39?
Karl Munro and Stella Price/Munro (2011-2013) – They moved into the Rovers when Stella became the manager. Karl then gets a job as a cabby. They later buy the pub from Steve. Karl then later developed a gambling addiction and was helped by Sunita Alahan, who he then had an affair with. They are found out and Stella kicks Karl out of the Rovers and he moves in with Sunita, who he really only saw as a bit of fun. He then attempted to woo Stella back – he started a fire at the Rovers and blamed Stella’s boyfriend Jason. But it backfired – Stella was in the pub! A panicked Karl ran into the fire and saved Stella. Fearing Sunita was going to expose him, he finished her off at hospital. Stella saw Karl as her hero and fell back in love with him and planned to marry. They married but after the wedding Karl was found out as a killer and arsonist. He kept Stella hostage in the Rovers but was later arrested and jailed. Stella was left humiliated and heartbroken.
Reg Holdsworth and Maureen Naylor/Holdsworth (1993-1995) – Reg and Maureen reunited after 25 years when Maureen started working at Bettabuys and Reg was the manager. Like in 1968, Maureen’s mother Maud strongly opposed the relationship. Reg was keen to consummate the relationship and a memorable scene occurred when Reg tried to seduce Maureen in a waterbed. They married in 1994 and bought the Corner Shop from Alf. Only after a year, the marriage soured as Reg was posted to a Bettabuys in Lowestoft and they divorced.
Alf Roberts and Audrey Potter/Roberts (1985-1998) – Alf had wooed Audrey for many years and had proposed to her in 1981, but she turned him down. In 1985, when Audrey had broken down after crashing Alf’s car, he comforted her and proposed and she accepted. They were popular due to their clashing personalities: Alf was tight-fisted while Audrey was a gad-about who enjoyed spending Alf’s money on shopping. She indulged in his council lunches, and was saddened when Alf lost his seat to Deirdre. In 1991 he reclaimed the seat and in 1994 he became mayor. Audrey was in her element but when she overused the chauffeur, Alf sacked her as mayoress and she was replaced by Betty. In 1993, Audrey persuaded Alf to sell the Corner Shop but was petrified about spending her whole life with Alf. But she was lost when Alf died in 1998.
Gary Windass and Izzy Armstrong (2010- ) – Gary bumped into Izzy’s wheelchair and they immediately take a shine to each other, but Gary had to go to war. When he returns, they plan a date but Gary is seduced by Kylie but they then start a relationship. When Izzy was robbed in 2011, Gary became overprotective of her and even kept her hostage in their flat. When Owen breaks into the flat, he fights a petrified Izzy and Gary is treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after his experiences in the war. They reunite on Christmas. In 2012, Izzy lost a baby and was then interested in surrogacy. Tina agrees to take on the challenge and does feel smothered by Gary and Izzy. When she gives birth to the baby, Tina at first refuses to give him to them, but then changes her mind. Since then, Gary and Izzy have settled into parenthood.
Who are your favourites in this batch of five? Well, vote for two of them and we'll see where they'll be in the countdown! The poll closes at midnight on Monday, 23rd December.
For me, this was the corner shop’s golden era. Indeed, Alf is still synonymous for his role as the street’s grocer. In 1985, the shop became a self-service establishment and Alf calls it the ‘Mini Market’. The same year he married Audrey Potter. Over the years he employed Deirdre Langton/Barlow, Sally Webster and Ivy Brennan and Audrey helped him out from time to time. In 1993, Alf sold the shop to Brendan Scott but bought it back upon Brendan’s sudden death. He sold it again in 1994 to Reg Holdsworth and took the ham slicer with him as a memento.
Brendan Scott 1993
Brendan renamed the shop ‘Best Buys’ and adapted an historical theme to the shop’s outlook. He kept Deirdre on as an assistant plus Emily Bishop. Nicky Platt became his delivery boy. But like Lionel Petty, he’s not a favourite with the locals unlike Alf. But the strain of managing the shop got to Brendan and he collapses of a fatal heart attack at the shop. His widow sells the shop and Alf buys it back.
Reg Holdsworth (1994-1996), Maureen Holdsworth/Elliott (1996-1997) and Fred Elliott (1997-1999)
Reg ran the shop with wife Maureen and mother-in-law Maud Grimes but soon got a job at supermarket Firman’s Freezers and left Maureen to run the shop with Sally Webster doing the odd evening-shift. Reg left Maureen for Lowestoft with his pregnant mistress and Maureen was given the shop in the divorce settlement. Maureen ran the shop with mum Maud. Sally leaves her post as assistant and Claire Palmer takes it up until early 1997. Maureen marries butcher Fred Elliott but after a week runs off with Bill Webster and Fred takes up the shop. Fred reluctantly took up the shop to Maud’s chagrin. After two years he sells up to Ravi Desai.
Ravi Desai 1999
Ravi owned a string of small shops in Weatherfield. After charming the likes of Alma, Audrey and Rita, Ravi left for India and sold his empire to his nephew Dev. Ravi’s assistants were his daughter Nita and son Vikram.
Dev Alahan 1999-
Dev is the current owner of the Corner Shop. Among his assistants have been Deirdre Rachid, Sunita Pareck/Alahan, Amber Kalirai, Sophie Webster, Leanne Battersby, Molly Dobbs and Jenna Kamara. Since Dev took over the shop, the shop has been destroyed twice: gutted in a fire started by Maya Sharma in 2004; and in 2010 when a tram crashed into it, killing Molly and trapping Sunita.
