Liz Dawn’s antics on Coronation Street were legendary, but it’s her smile and comic timing I’ll always remember
Following the sad news the Vera Duckworth actress died today, her Corrie co-star pays tribute to the soap legend
FOLLOWING the sad news of Liz Dawn’s death at the age of 77, her former Coronation Street co-star Sean Wilson, who played Martin Platt, reflects on the loss of an industry great...
There are times in life when you've got to take stock; feel the loss of a special friend or colleague that transports you into film-like memories.
Today is one of those days as I am saddened by the loss of "Our Vera", Liz Dawn.
Liz was the actress who single-handedly took the mantel of both Ena Sharples and Hilda Ogden.
Her character Vera Duckworth personified the post-war, gritty yet stoic Northern woman, married into a life in a back street of Manchester with a pub and a shop to a good man (Jack Duckworth) with his, let’s say, unconventional ways.
Tony Warren, who devised Coronation Street, had a vision back in 1960. He wanted to meld his childhood perceptions of Northern men and women into a tough, kitchen sink small screen drama full of life, love and laughs.
His women characters were the boss, of that there's no doubt, and of course Tony had an eye for good, real, talent when he saw it – such as Liz, who joined the show in 1974.
She’d performed in working men’s clubs, singing for a living, and brought her special mix of entertainment and sparkle to the show.
Liz Dawn and Bill Tarmey (who played Jack) carried the show into the magnificent viewing figures of the 80s and 90s, where up to 21 million would tune in.
She was made for the role and had the class of a great, great actress. Very astute in her observation and with enviable comic timing, she played "Our Vera" with style and grace for 34 years.
Personally it was her smile that I will remember - but her antics on set were legendary too.
I had the pleasure of working with Liz often and if you had to do a Duckworth scene you'd have to keep your hands firmly in your pocket.
Why? Because anything that moved on that set had a line on it to help her and Bill through the scene; and I mean everything!
I used to say to them that it was actually more difficult to do that than to learn the lines.
She was a friend to all the Manchester glitterati too, and her stories were legendary.
Liz used to own a pub in central Manchester and I remember chatting to her once and she said, “I do love Bryan Robson, do you know him Sean?”
"Ha, you mean the Man Utd and England ‘Captain Marvel’? Of course I do Liz.”
"I knew he was United Sean but is he England Captain too?"
It was so funny.
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She told a brilliant story about when she first started on the show and was really nervous in the rehearsal room, where the set is marked out in tape on the floor.
Liz was waiting to walk in the Rovers and Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) said to her, “Where are you going Liz?”
"In the pub, Julie," was her nervy reply.
Julie’s witty retort: "You're walking through the window, do you know that?"
I shared off set moments with her too, like when we met Prince Philip at the Royal Variety Show.
He approached us, put his customary hand into his blazer and said: ";Who are you lot?"
We couldn’t contain ourselves and burst out laughing.
Liz was firmly part of the laughter machine at Coronation Street and will be so sadly missed.
Jack and Vera are still the best soap couple ever, of that there's no doubt.
Show business, together with 21 million viewers and all her loving friends and family, will miss Liz’s big, open, compassionate smile and friendly demeanour with a special heartache.
Liz you were class, of that there's no doubt.