Coronation Street legend shares unexpected reason they won’t return to soap 53 years after debut
Thelma Barlow was a fan favourite on Coronation Street playing Mavis Wilton - but 53 years after her debut, the actress has shut down ever returning to the famous cobbles
A Corrie icon has shut down ever returning to the cobbles — and has shared the reason why
Actress Thelma Barlow, 95, played Mavis Wilton on the ITV soap – making her debut in 1971. Thelma was a staple on the cobbles and a favourite with fans – playing Mavis for over 20 years.
The shopkeeper was known for her on-screen partnership with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) in the Kabin and her marriage to Derek Wilton. However, the character left to run a bed and breakfast in Cumbria in 1997.
On Monday (July 1) Thelma appeared on Good Morning Britain to talk about her new film, Sleepless in Settle, that she came out of retirement for. The flick follows a mother trying to find a wife for her son.
And as expected, on GMB their conversation soon turned into the topic of Corrie. Talking to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Thelma was quizzed on whether she would return to the much-loved soap – and it’s bad news for Corrie fans.
Ed asked: “Aren’t you tempted for a cameo role? Maybe with Gail leaving?” Thelma laughed as she replied: “No. I’d be far too terrified.
“I’d be so frightened to do something that was commercial and in a big studio. And the pressure of work frightens me to death,” the soap legend added.
Susanna quizzed further and asked: “Is there no way they can drag you back to Corrie?” Thelma replied: “Never say no.
“But I would just be too frightened. It’s important for me to get it absolutely perfect. It was fine doing this film with friends, because they forgive you immediately.”
Thelma came out of retirement to star in her new movie, Sleepless in Settle – which was wrote and directed by former Dinnerladies co-star Judy Flynn. Talking about how she got Thelma out of retirement for the movie, Judy said: “We met again at her 90th birthday party and I asked if I could write something specifically for her and she agreed.
“Filming with Thelma was a total joy. She had so much energy and was full of ideas.”
