Corrie star Maggie Jones dies, aged 75
Coronation Street actress Maggie Jones died this morning, aged 75.
The actress, who played the much-loved soap character Blanche Hunt, passed away in hospital after losing a long battle with illness.
Jones, who studied at the RADA drama school, first appeared in Coronation Street in 1961 as a policewoman. She was granted a full time role as Blanche, the mother of Dierdre, 13 years later and remained on the show until 1976.
She made several reappearances in the shows for events such as Deirdre's marriage to Ken Barlow in 1981 and the birth of her grandchild Tracy 1977. Jones was made a full-time cast member in 1999.
In 2005 and 2008, Jones won the British Soap Award for 'Best Comedy Performance' for her role on the ITV1 soap. She appeared in more that 830 episodes of the show.
Her other TV credits included Dalziel and Pascore, Peak Practice, The Barchester Chronicles and Heartbeat.
Earlier this month, Jones was said to be in a critical condition after being rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery. However, producers later said that the 75-year-old was starting to improve. An ITV representative later added that the soap star was "continuing in the same direction" as she continued to be cared for at Hope Hospital in Salford.
In a statement, an ITV spokesperson said: "It is with great sadness that ITV announces that Coronation Street actress Maggie Jones has today passed away aged 75.
"Maggie, who has played battle-axe pensioner Blanche Hunt since 1974, died at the Salford Royal Hospital where she has been treated since falling ill in October. Maggie had been making a slow recovery but her condition deteriorated early Wednesday morning and she passed away peacefully in her sleep."
Corrie executive producer Kieran Roberts added: "Maggie was a much-loved colleague and a wonderful actress who turned Blanche into a true Coronation Street icon. She will be hugely missed by Coronation Street's many millions of viewers and by everyone who works on Coronation Street. Our thoughts and prayers go to Maggie's sister Joan at this very sad time."
Her co-star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, led the tributes to Jones, describing her as a "tower of strength".
"Maggie was a big part of the Barlow family and a brilliant actress. She was a tower of strength, physically frail but mentally strong as an ox and sharp as someone half her age," he said. "She had an amazing dry wit and was as funny if not funnier than Blanche. We were great crossword partners, we sat through Tracy's trial scenes doing the crossword together. I don't think Maggie ever realised how much she was loved not only by everyone on the show but by the millions of Blanche fans out there. She will be greatly missed."
Funeral arrangements are now being made for the actress.
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