Is Paula Tilbrook on extended leave? Can't recall seeing Betty in quite a long time
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Is Paula Tilbrook on extended leave? Can't recall seeing Betty in quite a long time
Long-serving Emmerdale star Paula Tilbrook has announced her retirement.
The popular actress has already filmed her final scenes as village gossip Betty Eagleton, which will air on the ITV soap in mid-May.
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Paula Tilbrook as Betty Eagleton in Emmerdale
© ITV
Paula Tilbrook as Betty Eagleton
Show bosses haven't revealed the exact details of her exit storyline but are promising a fitting send-off for Betty.
Speaking after filming her final episode, Tilbrook commented: "I have been at Emmerdale for 21 years and I've loved every moment. Today is both the saddest and the happiest day of my life. Happy because I've got everyone here with me, but the sad part is I'm leaving. But there is a great atmosphere and it is nice to go out on a high."
Emmerdale's series producer Kate Oates added: "It's impossible to overstate how much everyone at Emmerdale will miss Paula. In Betty, she's created a British television icon: someone who has lit up our screens and touched our hearts.
"Off screen, she is an integral part of the Emmerdale family: an inspiration to those she works with, as well as a fabulous raconteur and hilarious storyteller. We are sad to lose her from the programme, but wish her the happy retirement she so deserves."
More to follow.
I wonder whether health reasons are behind her decision to retire, she has not really been on screen for a long time. Will she be killed off in a storyline???? :(
I think.health reasons will be a factor - basedQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
on reports/comments made over past year.
I expect the producers will have consulted
with Paula as to whether she will have a final
exit or retire to seaside etc( as they did with
Corrie characters years ago).!!
What ever is decided Im sorry to see the actress
and the character go and hope Paula enjoys
retirement for a long time to come.
Its always good to see an octogenerian who has
plenty of spirit and enjoys life!!
Dupl
emma or robert to kill herQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
she will be missed on screen happy retirement to her
emma or robert to kill herQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
she will be missed on screen happy retirement to her
Oh noooo Why would they want to do that? If she is killed off, then please let it be in her sleep, like Alan Turner ....Quote:
Originally Posted by lizann
Oh noooo Why would they want to do that? If she is killed off, then please let it be in her sleep, like Alan Turner ....Quote:
Originally Posted by lizann
nosy betty could discover one of their secrets does she still live with victoria?Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
nosy betty could discover one of their secrets does she still live with victoria?Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
I think so, was it not written into the agreement when Victoria bought the house that Betty was to remain as tenant until her death?
When was she last on screen?
I wish her all the best
I think.it was approx July 2014 when sheQuote:
Originally Posted by tammyy2j
went on a cruise.
One scene before that was when Dom thought
she had put a large amount of money thru
his letterbox- after Gemma died.
He gave her a big kiss in cafe -much to Edna
Ruby and others shock!!
Dupl
Emmerdale welcomes back Betty Eagleton next week as the show builds up to a fitting exit storyline for the popular character.
Betty has been absent from the village in recent months, but upcoming episodes see her arrive back following some strange activity at her home.
Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) and Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) are shocked when a clearance van arrives at Keepers Cottage and some men start loading Betty's things inside - a clear hint that she has something big to tell them!
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Adam and Victoria see men loading Betty's things into a clearance van
© ITV
Adam and Victoria are alarmed by what they see
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Adam and Victoria see men loading Betty's things into a clearance van
© ITV
Adam and Victoria are confused
Later in the week, Betty arrives back home from her travels but is initially hurt to find that she gets a lacklustre reception from Victoria, who hadn't read her emails and had no idea she was coming back.
Victoria feels guilty when she realises how Betty feels, so she quickly tries to make amends by teaming up with Sandy Thomas to organise a fancy dress party celebrating Betty's return.
The atmosphere is jovial among the villagers as everyone is pleased to have Betty back, but she soon leaves them all stunned with a shocking announcement...
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Betty is given a surprise party
© ITV
Betty is given a surprise party
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Betty makes an announcement
© ITV
Betty makes an announcement
Paula Tilbrook, who has played Betty for 21 years, recently announced her retirement and she has already filmed her final scenes as the village's much-loved gossip.
Speaking on her final day last month, Tilbrook commented: "I have been at Emmerdale for 21 years and I've loved every moment. Today is both the saddest and the happiest day of my life. Happy because I've got everyone here with me, but the sad part is I'm leaving. But there is a great atmosphere and it is nice to go out on a high."
Emmerdale airs these scenes on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21 at 7pm on ITV.
Emmerdale airs heartwarming scenes next week as long-standing character Betty Eagleton leaves the village in style.
Upcoming episodes see Betty return home after some time away travelling, but she soon has some big news to share as she announces that she is moving away permanently after finding love with a new man.
In real life, 85-year-old Paula Tilbrook is retiring after playing Betty since 1994. Here, she chats about her exit and her favourite Emmerdale memories.
Are you pleased with Betty's on-screen farewell?
"I'm absolutely overawed by it. I'm over the moon and I fill up every time I think about it! I don't think we do this very often.
"I did ask our producer, bless her, not to have me murdered because I was fed up of murders! It's a very, very dangerous place to be - you're better in the Bronx than in Emmerdale village! (Laughs.) She said, 'Oh no, of course I won't' - and she hasn't. It's a proper ending and it's a happy one. Who doesn't like a happy ending?"
What have you liked about the character of Betty over the years?
"She tries her best, but as most older people do - myself included - she thinks she knows better than anyone else! She's had a lot of experience in life and she's not shy about giving people advice on how to run theirs! I think that's how you get when you get older.
"Betty was also a strong woman when she was younger, when I first arrived in the show. When I say 'younger', I was of pensionable age then! But when I see some of the pictures I think, 'Gosh, don't you look young?'
"I think Betty is likeable. She's a big softy with a hard crust. She lives on gossip and I think most women do. She gets me frustrated, she makes me laugh, and there are odd times that she makes me cry as well. How she put up with Seth for all those years I will never know. I think she was very patient!"
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Betty is given a surprise party
© ITV
Paula as Betty
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Betty's friends give her a fond send-off
© ITV
Betty's friends give her a fond send-off
Do you remember your first day on set?
"I remember it like it was last week! I strode into The Woolpack, ordered a sweet sherry and asked if Seth Armstrong was about. I think she went outside and found Seth with a horse. He hit the horse and it went down the street, but then we had to do another take. He didn't have to hit the horse second time round, because the horse was a very good actor and he started to walk away immediately!
"At one time there was even a storyline where Betty was saying to Seth, 'It's either the horse or me', which I understand was a very difficult decision because it was a good-looking horse! (Laughs.)"
Who will you miss most from the current cast?
"Oh, that's almost impossible to answer - they're all so individual. I think the people you share a dressing room with are the people you get closest to. The people I speak to by phone when I'm not working are Shirley Stelfox (Edna), Meg Johnson (Pearl) and Chris Chittell (Pollard).
"Chris was there when I first joined the show. He's the one, I think, that is responsible for the kind of cast it is at Emmerdale. I've been in Coronation Street and I've been in Brookside, but no soap I've been in has got the atmosphere that Emmerdale has.
"Chris is the one that makes you feel absolutely at home and like you're going to enjoy it. He's such a kind man and I think a lot of the atmosphere of Emmerdale is due to him, right back from when he was working on the show more than 20 years ago.
"I always say to newcomers: 'Just relax and enjoy it. If you've been in a series before where you had to watch your own back because there were a lot of jealousies, you don't have to do that here'. It's a team and that's a very nice atmosphere to work in."
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Betty and Seth in Emmerdale in 1995
© ITV
Betty and Seth in Emmerdale in 1995
What have been your highs and lows in the show?
"Well, it's all highs really because there's some wonderful people who have been in Emmerdale. I think the lows have been the deaths of colleagues like Stan Richards who played Seth and Richard Thorp who played Alan Turner. Richards's death was so sudden because although we're all creaking gates when we get to our 80s, it just wasn't expected."
Has the show changed since you first joined?
"It's unrecognisable from what it was. When I first joined, Sheila Mercier was the grand dame of Emmerdale as Annie Sugden. You'd see her stood at the top of the table when a scene came on and she'd be going on and on about something. I think altogether there were probably six scenes in an episode back then. Now I think we play six scenes in about five minutes. It's become so quick!
"You'd flick away because she'd be going on about something and you'd flick back later and she'd still be doing the same thing! She must have had an enormous amount of script to learn. But we had a very small cast then - I doubt there was 20. Now it's around 60."
Has Betty changed over the years?
"I don't think her character has, but of course she's 20 years older and we all change. She tries to keep up with the times and she's a positive person. If only people would do as they were told - she just wants people to do things her way!"
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Emmerdale's Edna, Pearl and Betty
© ITV
Edna, Pearl and Betty
What do you think Betty will miss the most about Emmerdale village?
"The people. Every one of them. It's the same for me - I will miss the people desperately."
What were your favourite moments?
"There are tons of them - happy ones. I always remember when I dressed up for Seth and got all my black things on - black tights, high heels, a bra and a bodice. Betty wanted to get him going because he said it would be wonderful if she dressed up as a windmill girl, which Betty used to be! Betty came into the room and just put one black fishnet leg through the door and there was no reaction, because he was fast asleep on the sofa and she'd wasted her time!
"I also loved the everyday scenes with Seth where we'd be talking about getting the room decorated. We'd get it down to two different options and I'd ask him which he liked best. You could tell he was in a no-win situation and he used to try and get out of it. In the end, he'd gingerly point at one of the patterns and then she'd say, 'Well what's wrong with the other one?!' It's those everyday scenes that I loved. Older people who'd been married a few years loved to see that too, because that's married life.
"I also remember when we were living in a caravan. The Dingles pinched it but then they were stopped by the police, who didn't know that we were inside. The police knocked on the caravan door, but Betty thought it was the people who'd stolen it, so she opened the door and hit this policeman on the head with a cast-iron pan! She was arrested and taken to the police station. Things like that were fun!
"I liked it when the Dingles first came in. I loved the character of Butch. I loved Billy Hartman's character as well. When you're in the show, it's always very sad to see favourite characters go. But it's like life, isn't it?"
Will you keep watching Emmerdale now that you've retired?
"I'll have to! I'll need to keep my eye on them and to make sure they're doing things right!"
Very Best Wishes to Paula!!
Hope she enjoys her retirement!!
Will miss Betty - a great character!!
Reminds me of some of my great-aunts!
I think the word is indomitable!
Dupl
Emmerdale bids a fond farewell to one of its longest-running characters in tonight's episode (May 25) as Betty Eagleton says her goodbyes to the village. http://www.picgifs.com/smileys/smile...ing-522995.gif
Betty (Paula Tilbrook) has decided to move to Australia to live with her new boyfriend, despite fears from some of her loved ones that she could be falling victim to a conman.
The popular resident's final hours in the village see her pay a visit to Seth's resting place before sharing some heartfelt words with troubled Laurel Dingle, who needs all the advice she can get at the moment.
Once Betty returns to The Woolpack, Diane shares her concerns that she could be making a terrible mistake - but Betty soon silences everyone with an extravagant exit that the locals won't forget in a hurry!
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The villagers gather to say goodbye to Betty
© ITV
The villagers gather to say goodbye to Betty
Emmerdale airs tonight at 7pm on ITV.
Paula has become very frail, God bless her xx
quite a nice exit for her with her loaded seth lookalike
has paula died?
it seems paula died in december RIP
Yes, last December.Quote:
Originally Posted by lizann
aww yes, Paula Tilbrook, who portrayed Betty Eagleton on Emmerdale, has died at the age of 89. Tilbrook died on 1 December, 2019, with her death only being publicly announced in an obituary published today (15 July) by acting industry newspaper The Stage. RIPQuote:
Originally Posted by lizann
Rest In Peace PaulaQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita