RIP a Corrie legend!
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RIP a Corrie legend!
RIP Betty
How very very sad. Betty was a remarkable woman who we'd thought she would live forever. I know she has been off our screens for a while but we all thought she would be back making her hot pot. Her death will be a huge loss to everyone. She is going to have one hell of a send of.
Rip.
I assume that they will do something similar to what they did for Blanche.
I just hope they do it well.
RIP Betty
We lost another corrie legend
Monday, October 17, 2011
'Coronation Street' Betty Driver tribute to air tonight
Coronation Street legend Betty Driver will be honoured on screen tonight as a documentary about her life is broadcast in her memory.
The Betty Driver Story, which originally aired in February, will be repeated on ITV1 this evening at 8pm, the Manchester Evening News reports.
An ITV spokesperson told the newspaper that an announcement will be made on screen confirming that the documentary is being shown as a tribute following Driver's death.
The programme will be sandwiched between Monday night's usual Coronation Street double bill.
Driver, who played Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams for 42 years, died peacefully in hospital on Saturday morning at the age of 91.
The actress had been suffering from ill health since May, when she was struck down with pneumonia. Betty's final appearance on screen aired towards the end of that month.
Coronation Street bosses are expected to hold a meeting today to discuss how Betty's departure from The Rovers will be explained on the show. Reports suggest that the scenes in question will air towards the New Year.
A show source told The Sun: "Our scriptwriters will ensure that Betty is written out in the best possible way. All the cast are keen to contribute to show their respect."
Meanwhile, an ITV representative said: "Everyone is very saddened by the news. Betty will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her and by our viewers.
"We are currently discussing the best way to run a fitting tribute to Betty, who has been such an important part of the show for so many years."
Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has paid tribute to his late co-star Betty Driver, hailing her as a "real colossus" of the show.
Driver, who played Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams for 42 years, passed away peacefully in hospital on Saturday following a period of ill health. She was 91.
Roache, best known for portraying Weatherfield's Ken Barlow since episode one in 1960, has now spoken of his close friendship with the actress, who was godmother to his son James.
"Betty was a loving, generous, caring person, where humour was never far away," Roache told The Sun. "She was an 'Earth mother', always happy and jolly.
"Though she never had any children of her own, it was as if we were all hers. She had so much love to give - and it was such a pure love, too. It made her perfect to be godmother to my son James, which she did brilliantly. She was the obvious - and only - choice."
He continued: "If she were here now, she'd probably be a bit embarrassed by everyone talking about her like we are. She'd be having none of it. She was a real colossus of Coronation Street, and we will all miss her dearly."
Coronation Street bosses are expected to explain Betty's departure from the soap in scenes which air towards the New Year.
I am surer she would have been a great mum and nice of Bill to have asked her to be godmother to James
Coronation Street's producer Phil Collinson has promised that the soap will give Betty Driver's character Betty Williams "a brilliant send-off".
Driver passed away peacefully in hospital on Saturday following a period of ill health. She was 91.
Coronation Street bosses are now considering how the departure of the actress's legendary character will be addressed on screen following her 42-year stint on the cobbles.
Speaking on This Morning today, Collinson said that it was too early to reveal exact details of what is being planned.
He explained: "I've only just got together this morning with some of the script department, and then we'll talk to the writers next week. But we'll do something brilliant and magnificent. We'll give her a brilliant send-off. She deserves it."
Collinson also hailed Driver as "a wonderful, joyful, brilliant lady" who had lived "a long and happy life".
Helen Worth, who plays Gail McIntyre on the show, added that she is looking forward to seeing an on-screen celebration of Betty when the scenes in question air towards the New Year.
Worth commented: "It just means all of the viewers can join in with that. Because it's not just us that's lost Betty, you know, it's all the viewers. It's all those people who have turned on over 40 years who are going to miss her. I think they can join in [with] her send-off."
ITV1 will screen a repeat of documentary The Betty Driver Story at 8pm tonight in the actress's memory.
Coronation Street star Malcolm Hebden and former cast member Beverley Callard have today joined the tributes which are pouring in for their late colleague Betty Driver.
Driver, who played Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams for 42 years, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Saturday. She had been in hospital for six weeks.
Hebden, better known as Weatherfield busybody Norris Cole, told Daybreak this morning: "It's a very sad day for all of us, I'm afraid. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but Betty was such a central part of the show for so many years - I'm afraid we're all feeling a bit glum today."
He continued: "Betty had been a professional and very successful since she was about 14 years old. I myself remember seeing Betty as a child, singing at the Opera House in Blackpool. She was what we call a trouper. She had a smile for everyone."
Callard, who bowed out from her role as Liz McDonald earlier this year, also shared her memories of Driver on ITV1's This Morning.
She explained: "[Betty] was an absolute lady, she was an amazing actress and such a professional but also a really beautiful person… She remembered every member of cast's own children's names and would ask how they were and she really wanted to know. She just helped you all the time.
"She was first on stage when she was about 8 years old and she had quite a pushy stage mum, and I think for a little while she rebelled against that. But it was in her to perform and as long as she could keep on working, she was going to keep on working. She was very beautiful as well. She had an inner light."
Documentary The Betty Driver Story will air in between tonight's Coronation Street double bill at 8pm as a tribute to the star.