Coronation Street actress Maggie Fox dies at home

Coronation Street actress Maggie Fox has died following a ‘sudden accident,’ her writing partner confirmed on Tuesday. 

The performer, who took two peripheral roles in the long-running soap during a 40-year acting career, passed away at home surrounded by ‘heartbroken’ family members. A cause of death is yet to be announced. 

Best known for her varied TV work, Fox also served as co-Artistic Director of theatre company LipService, co-founded with university friend Sue Ryding in 1985. 

Confirming the news in a statement added to the company website, Ryding admitted she was completely devastated by the sudden, unexpected loss. 

She wrote: ‘It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Maggie Fox, my comedy partner of 40 years and co-Artistic Director of LipService. Maggie passed away yesterday with her family around her. Consequently the Spring Tour of Chateau Ghoul has been cancelled. As you can imagine I am completely heartbroken.

‘I met Maggie when we were Drama students at Bristol University in the 1970’s. We were in a very serious production of Ibsen’s The Lady For the Sea but for some reason the audience was on the floor laughing. A tragedy for Ibsen (he was good at those) but the launch of an epic comedy partnership. 

Announcement: Fox’s death was confirmed by close friend Sue Ryding, with whom she founded the LipService theatre company in 1985

Old times: Fox featured twice in Coronation Street, appearing first in 2001 as Ruth Audsley (pictured)

‘Our theatre company LipService was officially launched in 1985 and we have written 22 original comedies, touring all over the world, managing to have children in between! It’s notoriously difficult to present new work in theatre and we are really proud that we managed to do so and to build an audience for it.’

Fox featured twice in Coronation Street, appearing first in 2001 as Ruth Audsley – a key player in Roy and Hayley Cropper’s attempt to flee Weatherfield with foster child Wayne Hayes.

She returned nine years later as Judge Travers during Kylie Turner and Becky McDonald’s bitter court battle for custody of Kylie’s son Max.

Important role: Ruth (far left) was a key player in Roy and Hayley Cropper’s attempt to flee Weatherfield with foster child Wayne Hayes

Fox also memorably starred as Bilson in ITV period drama The Forsyte Saga, an adaptation of the popular early 20th century book series by John Galsworthy. 

Her Manchester based theatre company LipService was launched with the aim of developing comedy shows with a female perspective.

To date 22 shows have been launched, among them The Picture of Doreen Gray, Inspector Norse, Desperate to be Doris, Withering Looks and Very Little Women. 

Fox and Ryding had been touring the United Kingdom with LipService play Strangers on a Train Set – a lighthearted take on the Alfred Hitchcock classic – when the coronavirus pandemic sent the country into lockdown. 

On stage: Her Manchester based theatre company LipService was launched with the aim of developing comedy shows with a female perspective

Devastated: The performer passed away at home surrounded by ‘heartbroken’ family members. A cause of death is yet to be announced

The partnership were preparing to launch a new production when Fox passed away suddenly at home.

Ryding added: ‘We are still all in a state of shock as this was very sudden following an accident. We had planned a new digital version of Chateau Ghoul which we had already filmed which will be shared with you later in the year in memory of Maggie, plus some live events using the huge amount of digital footage we thankfully have archived. Details to be published when have a plan.

‘Thank you for supporting us over all these years, we are so lucky to have such a loyal audience. We do hope you will join us to celebrate her comedy genius later in the year.’