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http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2755471/Maggie-Jones-dies-aged-75.html

Maggie Jones dies aged 75

By CARA LEE

Published: Today

CORRIE star Maggie Jones passed away this morning, aged 75.

The much-loved actress, who played Weatherfield's battleaxe Blanche Hunt, died at the Salford Royal Hospital after battling a long illness.

She was forced to pull out of filming on the soap in October after being rushed to hospital for major surgery and remained there since.

She had been making a slow recovery but her condition deteriorated early this morning and she passed away in her sleep.

Today her colleague William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, payed tribute to her.

'Greatly missed'

He said: "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.

"She had an amazing dry wit and was as funny if not funnier than Blanche. We were great cross word partners, we sat through Tracy's trial scenes doing the cross word 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."

Corrie's 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."

Maggie won several comedy awards for playing feisty Blanche - who is loved for her sharp tongue and tell-it-like-it-is manner.

She first appeared in the ITV1 soap in 1974 and became a regular cast member in 1999.

The character is famed for her put-downs, especially to her daughter Deirdre and son-in-law Ken.

In one classic 'Blanchism', she said: "Good looks are a curse, Deirdre. You and Kenneth should count yourselves lucky."

I hope Maggie Jones is recuperating well and getting the treatment she needs. Blanche is worth her weight in gold on this show. Her snark represents the viewers' voice!

I need to rant about the Connors. On paper, I am sure they were meant to be an up-and-coming, partly recurring Irish family that the audience would love. Oh, those Connors! So tight-knit and loyal and fiercely proud! Stop me if you've heard this tune before.

Well, what this viewer is getting is a whole big dose of smug and judgmental, served with a side helping of hypocritical. Maybe it is because I have warmed (if that's the right word) to the character of Tony. The actor is acting his little heart out, and seeing his scenes with Roy at the weekend (though a sightly contrived plot device) made me realize how much I am enjoying watching him. What will he do next?

By contrast, I cannot stand Michelle. Maybe it's because I suspect the actress, Kym Marsh, to be a raging bitch behind-the-scenes. Maybe it's because her tatoos are always on display and they are distracting. Maybe it's because she is always passing judgment on somebody. Maybe it's because everybody talks about what a great person Michelle is, and I have yet to see that greatness.

It ain't just Michelle, though. Liam was meant to be this hot leading man but he came across as a two-timing jerk (not helped by a talentless actor who thought he was Olivier). So all this grieving for "our Liam" feels alien to me.

Now. Their lovely parents. Thank God they aren't series regulars! Big Daddy Connor is a walking Oirish stereotype who looks like he is about to break into "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" after a couple of drinks. Mama Connor may look like a loveable, cuddly matriarch but the instant anybody does anything she doesn't like, the inner bitch is released. I can see why she'd be concerned about Maria moving on so quickly after Liam's death, but it comes across as bullying, like she wants Maria dressed in black and geneflecting in front of a shrine to Liam for the rest of her life. Everytime the Connors urge Maria to visit them in Ireland, it doesn't come across as a loving invitation but as hectoring, like they want Maria and the baby under their complete control.

All this to say that I can see where the Tony SL is going. I'm sure there will be a mega-reveal one of these days, and Tony will have to pay for his crimes. I, for one, am dreading the Connors' reaction of smug "Told you so"-ism, invective and self-pity.

[/rant]

jp, you don't think Ian Somerhalder can act? To be fair, all he needs to do is act with his eyes and cheekbones but I still think he's pretty decent. He's a better bad guy than I would have thought after Young Americans and Lost (not that I watched the latter).

I don't know when I gasped louder -- when Vicky became a vampire (and I am loving Kayla Ewell in the role), or when Damon started boogying with her through the house. Awww. Tiny dancer in my hand!

It's gotten to the point where Stefan being all mopey and stuff is making me a Damon fan. At least he is wry.

Those civil war flashbacks were cheesy in the best sense of the word. I assume they are filming the show in NC where Dawson's Creek was filmed because that would explain the gorgeous, antebellum mansions they used for the flashbacks. LOL at Katherine undressing the brothers with her eyes. Nice twist in making Katherine the one who turned Stefan into a VAN-piah.

VD (lol!!) is total escapist fun. This show seems like a throwback to the WB shows in the 90s, you know?

Holy [!@#$%^&*]! That's all I can say after watching the end of yesterday's episode. Vicky - no!

And Jasmine Guy is Bonnie's grandmother? Uh, nice try, casting director. I'm willing to forgive, though, because it's Whitley Gilbert. But couldn't they have just gone for estranged mother? JG ain't that old!

I love Caroline's line to Damon: "Why don't you sparkle?"

Caroline really grew on me in this episode. Bonnie OTOH? They need to do something big with her, because if every episode is going to be "Bonnie learns to switch out the lights with the power of her mind," it is going to be a lonnnnng, hard slog towards realizing her powers. Out of the supporting cast, she is not the most interesting and they need to work on that.

Cool seeing Susan Walters. I half expect her to turn out being a vampire, just so she can stay young and beautiful! BTW, I think Elena's parents were killed because her mother was working at the Heritage Founders Foundation or whatever it's called and stumbled upon the Salvatores being vampires. I wonder what is up with the watch left to Jeremy, though, and why the Lockwoods want it.

Damon remains a sexy mofo. This show is pure escapism. LOVE it.

It is a total swoonfest and a real guilty pleasure. I imagine Twilight fans are geeting their Edward Cullen fix in between movie installments by watching this show.

What really drives Vampire Diaries, though, is the MOLTEN hot chemistry between Dobrev and both her leads -- Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder. The love scene between Elena and Stefan when he morphs into Damon was sexy AND freaky. Seriously, Damon is the funnest baddie ever, but at least he has this connection with Katherine which stops him from being a total cartoon villain. The way Stefan looks at Elena is equally affecting and as rivals, they are more or less equally matched.

And top marks to Kevin Williamson for fleshing out the supporting cast -- tart-with-a-heart Vicki, druggie Jeremy. The guy who plays Matt is a stand-out, anchoring all the characters in their scenes. He is like the heart of the group. I also really enjoyed witchy Bonnie.

Oh, yes, absolutely awful. Even the editor of my favourite Vogue international edition (French) is dreadfully dressed. More often than not. Simply appalling.

My fave Vogue, too! You think Carine is badly dressed? Yeah, I guess she does wear her Stylist label like a badge and wants to appear very experimental (note Patricia Field who dressed Sex & the City looks like a bag lady). However rough she looks, though, I don't mind giving her a free pass because her publication is so fun to read.

Now Kate Moss... there's an overhyped "fashion muse."

This is Hardcore - Pulp

I completely agree--I am loving the story, for a variety of reasons. Yes, it is highly plot-driven, and to an extent predictable that the pregnant-damsel-in-distress falls in love with her husband's killer while carrying the husband's child but it is being helped by the extremely slow pace that they have been developing this story. It's fun to see how they are using her loneliness to sort of have Maria lean on Tony and I especially agree about him genuinely caring. I wouldn't say either one of them has feelings yet, but I think there's a mutual liking, guilt from Tony's side, and need from Maria's.

Agreed -- if they rushed this towards "Romance" it would ruin the story. For now, I find the friendship that has developed between them much more powerful and, in a way, intimate. I would rather they maintained that for a while because underpinning all this is, as you say, Maria's loneliness and Tony's guilt.

Plus... Carla's likely to come back soon. And she is Tony's achilles heel.

Damn. Maxwell Caulfield may not be the world's best actor (mind you, I could have called that back when he was in Grease 2 and The Colbys) but the man is hella FI-INE.

I feel like I am stepping with trepidation into the "Unpopular Opinions" thread here when I say that I am really enjoying the Tony/Maria story. Tony may be a bastard and a killer (mind you, it was that smug Liam -- silver lining!), but I do feel that when he is looking after Maria, he is genuinely caring of her and her baby. He wants to make amends to some extent, and this is probably the happiest, most normal relationship either character has ever experienced.

Debbie's a fascinating character. She's at the center of the show at the moment, and they're bringing her parents back, which should be great drama.

I have to say, I adored the dynamics between Charity, Cain and Debbie. In fact, Charity's exit storyline was really well-done and her driving off in tears not a little moving.

Thanks for posting the synopses, Paul Raven. The synopsis-writer really got into it! "Betsy's whole world has gone into a tailspin. Her romanticized vision of the perfect love and marriage has been shattered like priceless stained glass."

The descrip may not have the dynamism of Labine & Mayer's work... but all the same, the write-up makes me wish I could watch the show.

Donna's latest boytoy, Joe, is so delicious. Why is it that she always gets these hotties? She ain't much!

Her hair makes her look like a yorkshire terrier.

I just assumed it was Aaron Spelling's juggernaut mansion (complete with movie theatre, bowling alley and gift-wrapping room, apparently).

Both Dynasty and The Colbys had stunning exteriors. I will always remember when Alexis and Crystal had that fight in the Carrington fountain/lake feature. Bet that was filmed on somebody's gorgeous Hills estate.

LOL. That second sentence is probably the single most sexiest sentence I've ever read in my life. Brandon/Dylan is the hottest case of hoYay! in history. No doubt in my mind. Just thinking of it gives me the vapors.

Um, ok, now you've got *me* all hot and bothered about BranDylan!

Seriously, though. Before Kelly/Dylan/Brenda, there was Brandon/Dylan/Brenda. Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty had a decidedly flirty, non-sibling chemistry. And then Brandon and Dylan started "hanging out" -- I believe Brandon even tried to save Dylan from his heavy-partying lifestyle. Brenda must have got jealous because then Dylan and Brenda started "hanging out" -- I'll always remember the episode when she came back from an afternoon with Rebel Without a Clue and Brandon was all shocked, like "You've been hanging out with my friend Dylan?" Brenda responds: "No. My friend Dylan." Meow!

What a tangled web of illicit feelings!

LOL, c'mon. Everybody knows that David Silver was crushing on Steve all these years.

Brandon was all about Dylan.

Here's the early bible.

Which, from the bits I've read, is a really epic, sweeping read!

They've been getting on better since Archie descended upon The Vic. Weirdly, the guy owns a mansion, yet settles for living in an overcrowded flat above a pub, in East London. Go figure.

LOL, oh, come now, Ben. You know Archie moved into the Vic cos he luvs his precious Peg! Don't all British men over the age of 50 have a boner for Barbara Windsor circa her glorious Carry On days?

Wow, that Ronnie/Archie story sounds good. I like Samantha Janus as Ronnie some I'm hoping she dishes out some ass-kicking at some point. Not until Archie's lied/shagged/murdered/cheated/schemed his way around the Square, of course.

Really?

Really. EastEnders gets a lot of criticism when it goes off the rails because it used to be (don't know if it still is) the #1 rated SHOW (nevermind soap). Hardcore calls for its cancellation abounded less than two years ago when I was over there. I'm talking TV hosts, radio shows, newspapers (which play a big part in hyping the soaps). When Corrie struggles, though, it strikes me as being seen to go through "a bad patch" but there is always more faith that the show will pull through.

I think this may also be because EE tends to fall in love with certain characters and feature them heavily -- rather like GH. This engenders huge devotion if the fans love those characters (and hence why EE wins a lot of soap award categories) and massive backlash if they hate them. Like GH, EE also does these big dramatic "sweeps" stories to bring in ratings -- especially around Christmas and New Year.

Whereas Coronation Street seems to be much better at utilizing its canvas. If somebody is not in a SL, the likelihood is that they may well be a few months down the road. At least from what I've seen.

Can I ask? What is Ronnie's beef with Archie?

Is Roxy really Ronnie's daughter a la Kat Slater? I kid. OK, seriously, why does she hate Sean? Apart from the fact that he's a total slime?

And why is there all this sexual tension everytime Ronnie and Phil "Bulldog" Mitchell have a scene?

Thank you so much, Ben, for the wonderful post! 

So which British soap is doing well story-wise? Don't mention Hollyoaks.

Coronation Street seems to get mucho love in the British press.

OMG!!!! YAY!!!! We got our Sunset Ending!!! God, the John Paul and Craig storyline was just amazing to watch, it's been an amazing ride over the past 2 and half years watching the storyline that single-handedly revived Hollyoaks. God, their reunion at the train station was such a good moment. I guess if some didn't see the storyline from the beginning to end, they won't feel the same way about it that we do.

I only caught this episode for the randommest of reasons (I have a friend who is a fan) and don't know Craig and Jean-Paul's history AT ALL. But I was taken in by the naturalness of the whole relationship and the obvious chemistry between the two leads.

Their very last scene, on the train, Craig's arm slung over JP's shoulder, as he joked to him that his family in Dublin didn't know he was gay. And then their teasing kiss. I've never seen anything feel so natural and... right between a same-sex couple on ANY soap before. It really contrasts with, say, ATWT or AMC, where Nuke/Lianca would be rooted to the spot, spouting rather unrealistic and melodramatic dialogue, hugging awkwardly or sharing the odd kiss which sometimes (though not always) felt like they had been rationned out.

I especially liked how neither character is perfect. Craig struck me as very confident, while the episode seemed to reference JP as sometimes flighty, superficial or selfish. They both felt human and acted like people you see IRL.

BTW, whoever is playing Niall is a pretty compelling actor. Understated yet completely menacing. Nice bait-and-switch with the poisoned beers, JP!

Kinda OT, but going through my photobucket account, I have some random pics of SB -- including this hot-ass picture of Lane Davies as Mason. Raowl!

"Cruz. Cruz killed me, daddy."

Confession: I thought Marcy as Liz Colby on AMC was the most unattractive person ever. But my goodness did she turn into a swan -- absolutely beautiful as Eden.

IA. It seemed as if AMC just didn't know how to style or light Marcy Walker. On Santa Barbara, with her ultra-long hair and soft-spoken intensity (ignoring those 80s clothes), she glowed with fairy-tale beauty.

It's clear that Santa Barbara was by no means the perfect soap. When it was first launched, it underwent a couple of different CCs and many shifts in focus as the Perkins and many of the Lockridges were later phased out. I think SB was NBC Daytime's equivalent of a Dynasty or a Dallas. They threw a huge amount of publicity and money into the project and promoted it a great deal, even when the ratings were, relatively speaking, not great. And yes, that 3pm slot against GH was probably killer (but a 12 or 1pm slot might have been even worse).

Because so much money was riding on the show -- and because they kept acquiring big names from other soaps in order to draw in viewers -- the Dobsons were probably buffeted by network and producer interference from the get-go. This likely contributed to the variation in quality and sudden switches in SL and new characters (although I have fond memories of Charles Pratt's stint as HW). And I do remember Wednesday episodes being rather weak while Mondays and Fridays were amazing. Santa Barbara was a big believer in Cliffhanger Friday!

Despite whatever problems it had, I strongly feel that golden-era SB, while not 100% perfect, was perfect for me. I'm not just relying on my memories of the show. Some of the YouTube clips are even more powerful on second viewing. Great dialogue writers and unapologetically romantic HWs... a forward-thinking production crew... hugely talented actors who embody their roles completely... all this produced magic. At least it did for me. I got goosebumps watching the show when I was little. Now older and much more cynical, I still get them looking at some of the clips. When it was on-form, few shows could touch it. In particular, SB has spoiled me completely as far as depicting romance on a soap is concerned (though GH came super-close in the mid-90s). The Cruz/Eden/Robert/Kelly SL being a case in point. I still find some of the clips incredibly moving to watch in a way that soaps today just aren't, which is probably why I only watch the odd clip every once in a while! An intense viewing experience which I can't really describe adequately... perhaps that's why it only lasted 8 years. It burned too brightly, too quickly. I'm glad I was around during the great years, though.