June Whitfield to join Corrie

[alan45]

Veteran actress June Whitfield is to join the cast of Coronation Street, it has been confirmed.
The 84-year-old - whose extensive filmography includes Carry On films and more recently Doctor Who - takes on the role of May, Blanche's old friend who turns up for her funeral.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Roy Hudd is to reprise his role as undertaker Archie Shuttleworth for the commemorative episodes.
In October, Blanche actress Maggie Jones was quickly written out of the Manchester serial when she became critically ill. Two months later, she died at the age of 75 at Salford's Hope Hospital.
After Jones's final scenes had aired, writers explained Blanche's absence form the Barlow household by revealing that her friend had won two tickets for a holiday in Portugal.
Whitfield begins filming her two episodes at Corrie's Manchester home at Granada Studios in a fortnight's time and will appear on screen in early May.

[Perdita]

Wonder whether another former Carry On star is going to join this show at some time, after realising she has too much time on her hand with her much younger husband

[alan45]

Wonder whether another former Carry On star is going to join this show at some time, after realising she has too much time on her hand with her much younger husband

Dont even joke about her. At least June Whitfield has appeared in a greater variety of programmes than the one trick pony known as the Poison Dwarf

[lizann]

June Whitfield has been signed up for a short stint on Coronation Street to play Blanche Hunt's grieving friend at her funeral.
The Absolutely Fabulous star will play May, Blanche's friend from Portugal, who comes to Weatherfield to explain to Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) how her mother died and to attend the service.

June, 84, said she will head to Manchester on Tuesday to start filming.

She was full of praise for the Coronation Street cast, saying: "I admire them all. I think they have an amazing schedule and I don't know how they do it. I only hope I don't let them down."

Actress Maggie Jones, who first appeared as Blanche in 1974, died in December aged 75.

In the soap, the character is house-sitting for a friend in Portugal, but news of her death will reach the cobbles in May.

A spokeswoman for the soap said: "We felt it fitting to have someone of June's calibre be involved in Maggie's swansong."

Roy Hudd is also reprising his role as undertaker Archie Shuttleworth for the funeral storyline.

[Perdita]

Veteran actress June Whitfield is to guest star in two episodes of Coronation Street as one of Blanche's old pals.

The 84-year-old veteran of the Carry On films and Absolutely Fabulous turns up at the old battleaxe's funeral.

The plot will reveal that Blanche, played by the late Maggie Jones, was staying with June's character May in Portugal before she died.

After Jones' final scenes had aired, writers explained her absence by revealing her friend had won tickets for a holiday there. June's scenes will be shown in early May.



The Mirror

[Chloe O'brien]

I'm looking forward to seeing June on the cobbles. She was hilarous in Ab Fab hopefully she will be just as batty as Blanche's mate. As for our favourite posion dwarf. She is heading into reality tv world. I'm a celeb, wife swap, Come dine with me. The sky's the limit. If that fails she can always share the panotmine cow role with a number of ex EE dumplings.

[tammyy2j]

It will be nice to see Blanche's mates

[TaintedLove]

*cough* *splutter*
You made me choke on my Fruity Pebbles cereal lol