Corrie: Maggie Jones (Blanche) seriously ill

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I don't think so, but I heard a made-up rumour that they were trying to remove one of Ken's shoes from her throat.

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Blanche's one last blast from beyond the grave
By Brian Roberts
9/02/2010

Late Corrie star Maggie Jones will be giving battleaxe Blanche one last acid-tongued blast from beyond the grave. In the show, Blanche is currently in Portugal, from where she writes her final put-down for daughter Deirdre and son-in-law Ken Barlow's party in the pub.

In a card Blanche says: "I considered surprising you by flying back for your party. But then I remembered some of your previous anniversary parties and couldn't imagine it'd be worth the bother. Besides, it's 83°F here and we have a pool."

The popular actress died in December aged 75. Her character will be written out later this year.

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Cathedral tribute to the Coronation Street's Maggie Jones
Neal Keeling
February 20, 2010
manchestereveningnews.co.uk

She was best known for playing an acid-tonged battleaxe who always relished making barbed comments at funerals. But actress Maggie Jones, who played Blanche Hunt, will be remembered at Salford Cathedral as a much-loved Coronation Street legend.

Filming will be suspended for the afternoon so cast members can attend a service to celebrate her achievements at 2pm on Thursday. The public service will feature recitals and readings from stars of the show. William Roache, who – as on-screen son-in-law Ken Barlow – was often the target of Blanche’s stinging one-liners will pay tribute with a personal address.

Maggie joined the programme in 1974 and won the best comedy performance award at the British Soaps Awards in 2005 and 2008. She insisted she did not find Blanche funny and could not play her properly if she did. She said: "Blanche genuinely believes what she is saying is right and doesn’t say things for comedic effect. If I started trying to play the lines for laughs they wouldn’t come out right. Everyone knows someone like Blanche. We would all like to have the nerve to say the things she does." Blanche’s put-downs were golden comedy. When Liz McDonald wore a low-cut dress for a job interview, Blanche had no hesitation in naming the job: ‘Prostitute’.

Maggie died in December, aged 75, at Salford Royal Hospital. She pulled out of filming in October after being admitted to hospital for major surgery. Corrie producer Kim Crowther said: "Maggie was such a wonderful character in real life and just as unforgettable as her alter-ego Blanche. Still missed greatly by cast and crew, we always planned to give everybody the chance to celebrate Maggie’s life. Thursday is not just for the people who worked with her and knew her well, but also for the public who adored her – never less than when she was ‘charming’ the nation with her sharpest putdown."

Maggie was last seen on screen just before Christmas, and ‘Blanche’ is presently house-sitting for a friend in Portugal. Viewers will hear of her death in May, and Street residents will gather for her on-screen funeral, giving her fans worldwide the chance for one last goodbye.

Maggie, a widow, appeared in more than 830 episodes of the Street. She was born in Yorkshire and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She worked in repertory before appearing in the West End in plays such as Pride and Prejudice. In between the gaps in her Coronation Street appearances she took on other television work, including Heartbeat, Peak Practice, and The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.

Salford Cathedral holds about 700 people and 250 are expected from ITV and the show. Everyone is welcome and the public can enter from 1pm onwards.

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I'm pretty sure there won't be many free seats... but she deserves it for sure.

[SpursFan1902]

They have never said exactly what she died from. They always just say she was admitted to the hospital for major surgery....I wonder what happened.

She deserves it for sure!