‘Street’ suffers another blow

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 19

‘Street’ suffers another blow

NZPA London Britain’s favourite television soap opera, “Coronation Street,” suffered yet another blow yesterday when the actress, Lynne Perrie, who plays Ivy Tilsley, was taken to hospital. Ms Perrie, aged 52, who suffers from angina, called an ambulance to her home in Rotherham, South Yorks, after she began to feel ill.

An official at Granada TV, Manchester, which makes the top-rating, twiceweekly programme, said: “Lynne is aware that there is a dormant angina problem.

“Therefore when she felt unwell, she very sensibly called an ambulance so she could go into hospital right away.”

The “Coronation Street” producer, Bill Podmore, had been in touch with her, and there was “certainly no panic” about her condition.

Ms Perrie is the latest addition to the “Street’s” growing list of casualties. In the summer, Peter Dudley, who played her screen husband, Bert, was written out because of illhealth. He had suffered a heart attack and a stroke. The veteran “Street” star, Doris Speed, aged 84, who plays the snobby landlady, Annie Walker, has twice been admitted to hospital recently suffering a digestive complaint, and has only just been allowed home. The loveable dustman, Eddie Yeates, and his pregnant girlfriend, Marion Willis — played by Geoffrey Hughes and Veronica Doran — are leaving after their screen wedding in the next few weeks.

Earlier this year, Peter Adamson, who played Len Fairclough, was sacked for selling “Street" secrets to the press.

Another shock came recently when Pat Phoenix, who plays Elsie Tanner, announced she would not renew her contract next month.