Coronation Street Ta-Ra Hilda: Tribute 20th Dec

[Ome]

The woman behind one of Salford's best-loved characters died after taking ill on Tuesday.

Coronation Street legend Jean Alexander, best known for her role as Hilda Ogden, has passed away at the age of 90.


She was admitted to hospital on Tuesday (October 11), also the day of her 90th birthday, after taking ill, and died peacefully in her sleep earlier today (October 14), The Mirror reports.


The actress' niece, Sonia Hearld, told of her shock at the news, adding that Jean had been feeling ill over the weekend when the family came together to celebrate her birthday.



"She had been feeling a little poorly and had gone in for some tests," she said. "But on Tuesday she was still not too good and it was decided she might be better going back into hospital."


Jean played the character of Hilda on the soap for 23 years between 1964 and 1987, and briefly reprised the role in one-off appearances in 1990 and 1998.


She had previously been hospitalised in 2014 after suffering a stroke, but later reassured fans that she was "getting on with life as normal" just a few months later.

 

[Walford Boy]

Very sad news. A real lady, who was a national treasure. RIP Chuck.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Awww. I feel really sad to hear this.

I have great admiration for Jean for avoiding the limelight so gracefully.

Hilda was a wonderful creation. What a legacy she leaves us with.

 

[Swami]

A true legend, and apparently Laurence Olivier was a big fan of hers, according to the BBC website she had a framed message from him hanging in her house.

Swami

 

[Englishboy]

A true Corrie icon.

The poet laureate, John Betjeman was a big fan of hers.

Sad to hear this news but she lived a long and fulfilled life.

 

[LouiseP]

She did . Usually actors who are in a part a long time have difficulty getting work after they leave but she didn't . She went on top create many other characters in other dramas.

 

[Englishboy]

BBC news report

 

[Long Lashes]

I am sad to hear this, she was such a great actress who brought Hilda to life. She had the ability to make you laugh and cry.


Hilda's "Muriel"

 

[Ome]

I wish the show would do something to mark her passing. Even if it's just a small scene with Rita telling Ken that she heard about Hilda.

I can't recall if Corrie has ever done this with a character that died after they left the show.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Just home, so sory to hear this sad news

Hilda and Stan were 2 of the greats of Corrie and she was a skilled actress for comedy, drama and pathos

When you look at some of the 2nd rate, hammy actresses on Corrie now you realise just how good she was and how much she was missed

Scary she left Corrie in the 80s, time flies

RIP to her family and friends, she was a true soap great.

 

[Englishboy]

I wish the show would do something to mark her passing. Even if it's just a small scene with Rita telling Ken that she heard about Hilda.

I can't recall if Corrie has ever done this with a character that died after they left the show.

They did it with Fred Gee in 1999 shortly before actor Fred Feast's real life death in 1999. The character of Fred Gee had last been seen on screen in 1984.

Also, what about Ivy Tilsley. I think it was mentioned that the character had passed away in a nunnery.

 

[Englishboy]

Also when Dennis Tanner returned to the street in the noughties, it was mentioned that his mother, Elsie had been killed in a Grace Kelly style car crash some years ago.

The character of Elsie herself had not been seen on screen since 1984.

 

[LouiseP]

She did . Usually actors who are in a part a long time have difficulty getting work after they leave but she didn't . She went on to create many other characters in other dramas.

 

[Richard Channing]

Also, what about Ivy Tilsley. I think it was mentioned that the character had passed away in a nunnery.

And wasn't there a story line about Ivy's ghost possible haunting Vera?!?

 

[Englishboy]

And wasn't there a story line about Ivy's ghost possible haunting Vera?!?

Yes, I remember that well.

 

[Ome]

Also when Dennis Tanner returned to the street in the noughties, it was mentioned that his mother, Elsie had been killed in a Grace Kelly style car crash some years ago.

I remember this one now, thanks.

I was reading on DS that Corrie are thinking about mentioning Hilda's passing in one of the coming episodes. They're dedicating tonight's show to Jean.

 

[Ome]

ITV will screen a special Christmas special tribute to celebrate the life and times of actress Jean Alexander.

The blockbuster homage to the actress, who played legendary Coronation Street cleaner Hilda Ogden, will contain classic clips from throughout her Corrie career, and also tributes from fellow cast members and family members.

The commemorative documentary episode will go out as part of the festive schedule due to the massive public affection for her tremendously popular soap character. Her last appearance on the soap was also on Christmas Day in 1987.

Jean, who played Hilda from 1964 to 1987, died three days after her 90th birthday in October and swiftly had a Monday night episode of the hit ITV soap dedicated to her.

Last month’s soap salute saw the message, ‘In memory of Jean Alexander 1926-2016,’ popping up on screen at the end of the episode.

An ITV source said: “There was even talk of putting the tribute to Jean Alexander out on Christmas Day she was that big a character on screen for ITV, but it is now looking like airing just before on December 20.

“The tribute will be packed full of fun and family humour and the programme is already being filmed and is expected to be a real ratings winner.

“Jean was a much loved actress and the public out pouring of grief following her death reminded many at the top of television how iconic soap characters were in the days before TV had so many channels.

“Back then tens of millions of people watched the soaps and ITV had the best in Britain with Coronation Street regularly topping the ratings with audiences above 20 million not uncommon.

“The episodes featuring Hilda and her layabout husband Stan, played by the late Bernard Youens, were soap comedy gold and the couple were spectacularly popular with the viewing public.

“They even starred in the lead roles in a special Coronation Street production put together to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee back in 1977.”

The memorial programme will feature Jean’s long-standing colleague and friend Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap launched on December 9, 1960, paying his own accolades to the actress along with a clutch of current co-stars who appeared alongside her.

And former stars from the ITV soap have been drafted in to give their memories of Jean’s acting magic – included among the special guests is sure to be Julie Goodyear, who played brassy barmaid Bet Lynch in the Rovers Return during Hilda’s time as the pub cleaner.

Jean, who lived out her years at her Southport home, but died in hospital three days after her landmark birthday, said of her character: “I don’t know why she was so popular. I think because she was a downtrodden, poor little soul.”

• Hilda Ogden’s Last Ta-Ra – A Tribute To Jean Alexander will air on ITV on December 20

 

[Mel O'Drama]

An ITV source said: “There was even talk of putting the tribute to Jean Alexander out on Christmas Day she was that big a character on screen for ITV, but it is now looking like airing just before on December 20.

A Christmas day tribute would have been amazing.

 

[Cookiescholes]

It's nice they are not holding Jean A slating the show for years against her. Looking forward to the tribute.

 

[Adamski]

Can't wait to watch this, but I do think it's a shame that ITV didn't air a similar programme for Tony Warren.