Coronation Street star Irene Sutcliffe dies aged 88 

Coronation Street star Irene Sutcliffe dies aged 88

  • She passed away on May 3
  • The actress starred on the ITV soap back in 1968 to 1974 as Maggie Clegg 
  • Irene’s character Maggie ran the corner shop and lived with her alcoholic husband Less Clegg
  • Irene went on to have a distinguished career in theatre 
  • She starred in an episode of Doc Martin in 2007, BBC daytime soap Doctors in 2010, and in 2015 she portrayed The King’s Mother in US soap The Royals

Irene Sutcliffe has died aged 88. 

The former Coronation Street star portrayed long-suffering cobbles favourite Maggie Clegg from 1968 until 1975, but sadly passed away on May 3rd. 

Irene’s Coronation Street character Maggie ran the corner shop from 1968 to 1974 and lived with her alcoholic husband Less Clegg (John Sharp) but divorced him in 1969 over his heavy drinking.

Died: Former Coronation Street star Irene Sutcliffe has passed away aged 88 (pictured with Ron Cooke [Eric Lander] in 1974)

Maggie went on to marry Ron Cooke. The character’s sister was fellow Weatherfield legend Betty Williams (Betty Driver), who first arrived on the cobbles in 1969 to help Maggie run the shop. 

Maggie emigrated to Zaire – which is now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo – in 1974 before a return to Manchester, only to depart again. 

During her time on the cobbles, Irene starred alongside Ena Sharples, Emily Nugent and Len Fairclough. 

Distinguished career: The former Coronation Street star portrayed long-suffering cobbles favourite Maggie Clegg from 1968 until 1975

Distinguished career: The former Coronation Street star portrayed long-suffering cobbles favourite Maggie Clegg from 1968 until 1975

Character: Irene's Coronation Street character Maggie ran the corner shop from 1968 to 1974 and lived with her alcoholic husband Less Clegg (John Sharp) (pictured 1970)

Character: Irene’s Coronation Street character Maggie ran the corner shop from 1968 to 1974 and lived with her alcoholic husband Less Clegg (John Sharp) (pictured 1970)

In 2003, it was revealed Maggie was still in the African country, and following Betty’s death in 2012 she wasn’t mentioned and didn’t attend the funeral. 

Irene, whose distinguished career spanned for more than six decades, departed the soap in 1975 to head back to treading the boards in theatre.  

While she was best known for her role in Corrie, she also starred in an episode of Doc Martin in 2007, BBC daytime soap Doctors in 2010, and in 2015 she portrayed The King’s Mother in US soap The Royals, which features Elizabeth Hurley as fictional Queen Helena.

Iconic: During her time on the cobbles, Irene starred alongside Ena Sharples, Emily Nugent and Len Fairclough (pictured 1978)

Iconic: During her time on the cobbles, Irene starred alongside Ena Sharples, Emily Nugent and Len Fairclough (pictured 1978)

 She also appeared in classic TV shows such as All Creatures Great & Small in 1989, and Miss Marple in 1987, as well as Hetty Wainthropp Investigates 10 years later. 

Irene’s death comes after a week after fellow Coronation Street star Andrew Hall died at the age of 65.  

The actor  – who played Audrey Roberts’ (Sue Nicholls) cross-dressing lover Marc Selby in the long-running ITV soap – last Monday following a short battle with an illness.

His management InterTalent, which has handled his career since 2014, said in a statement on Twitter: ‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our client & friend Andrew Hall who sadly passed away on Monday after a short illness.

‘Andrew was loved by audiences for his many roles, most notably Butterflies, Coronation Street and, more recently, Syfy’s Blood Drive.’  

Died: Irene's death comes after a week after fellow Coronation Street star Andrew Hall died at the age of 65 (pictured 2011)

Died: Irene’s death comes after a week after fellow Coronation Street star Andrew Hall died at the age of 65 (pictured 2011)

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