Iconic Coronation Street star returns to screens at 95 after retirement

Wales Online

14-05-2025

Iconic Coronation Street star returns to screens at 95 after retirement
Thelma Barlow played Mavis Riley on Coronation Street from 1971 to 1997
Thelma Barlow will once again be seen on screens
(Image: Justin Goff, UK Press via Getty Images )
Thelma Barlow, the esteemed actress who portrayed Mavis Riley on Coronation Street from 1971 to 1997, has discussed her decision to leave the iconic ITV soap as she steps out of retirement for a new acting role.
Following Helen Worth's recent departure from her long-standing role as Gail Platt, Barlow, 95, reflected on her own exit from the show during an appearance on the Conversation Street podcast. She expressed that leaving was the correct choice for her at the time, saying: "It was the right thing for me. Helen's just left, and it's probably the right thing for her too. You just know, I think. I couldn't be doing it now."
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Barlow also reminisced about returning to theatre work after her stint on television, stating: "But, no, I just felt that I just had to get back to theatre and that happened, fortunately."
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Thelma Barlow became a household name due to her role in Coronation Street
(Image: Ferdaus Shamim, WireImagevia Getty Images )
During her tenure in the cobbles, Barlow's character Mavis became a beloved figure, especially known for her marriage to Derek Wilton (played by Peter Baldwin) and her partnership with Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) at The Kabin newsagents. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
When asked about the enduring appeal of Mavis's on-screen friendship with Rita, Barlow highlighted the contrasting personalities of the two characters: "Well, they were such opposites to begin with, weren't they?
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"Everyone caved in rather heavily on Mavis to begin with, but it gradually rubbed off on her, this little bit of spirit and she got more strength."
The Manchester Evening News reports she continued to describe their dynamic, noting how Mavis often exasperated Rita: "They were really good friends, although there was a lot of stick coming from Rita! I think [Mavis] probably irritated Rita, 'Get some spine, woman, stand up for yourself!', because she was being very soppy with all these menfolk. She had so many men in her life over the years, it never came to anything, though."
The former Dinnerladies actress has made a return to the screen in the short film 'Sleepless in Settle', taking on the role of an elderly mother intent on finding the perfect match for her 72-year-old son.
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Despite originally having no plans to jump back into acting, she was persuaded by a friend to take on the project.
Reflecting on her unexpected comeback, she said: "I had no intention of working again, but a friend who had written a lot of things, she's an actress, and a very good one, Judy Flynn, she asked if she could write something for me.
"I was delighted, I don't think I hesitated at all. She wrote this lovely piece, and we talked about it quite a lot. We were very much on a wavelength, and we did it about a year and a half ago now.
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"It was just the best thing ever because I started off in theatre, and it was like being back in my first job with young people. Young technicians, everyone had this great feeling of trying to do the best they could."
In a recent interview, following her emergence from retirement to take part in the short film 'Sleepless in Settle', where Thelma plays the character Barbara who embarks on a mission to set up her middle-aged son Alan with a woman, yielding many comedic scenes.
Chatting with Radio Times, Thelma shared her reasons for embracing this new role, revealing how her old colleague and friend, the talented Judy Flynn, who is both a writer and director, crafted the character of Barbara expressly with her in mind.
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Thelma expressed: "I was familiar with her work and knew it would be good. The characters are so well drawn, it was a joy. Good writing is easy to learn, there are some lovely lines that reminded me of when I joined Coronation Street."