Maggie Jones(1934-2009)

"Deirdre Hunt" (Anne Kirkbride) first appeared on Coronation Street (1960) in 1972 and it was 2 years later that the writers decided to introduce her mother, Blanche, in the build up to her marriage to "Ray Langton" (Neville Buswell).

Sadly, the actress chosen to play the part, Patricia Cutts, took her own life on 6 September 1974 and the part had to be hurriedly re-cast, and Maggie Jones got the role that she has since made so much her own.