Catherine Schell – Space: 1999, Age 78
Hungarian-born actress Catherine Schell has a long list of acting credits. But the one she’s best remembered by is her role as an alien in Space: 1999, a ‘70s sci-fi program that was the most expensive of its kind at the time of its making.
With her out-of-this-world beauty, Schell was a shoo-in for the part. The gig scored her other big projects after including a recurring role on the TV shows Doctor Who and The Spoils of War. After years of inactivity, she returned to the small screen in 2020, co-starring in the miniseries Dracula.
Phil Rose – Robin of Sherwood, Age 71
The character Friar Tuck has been played by countless actors in countless retellings of the ever-popular Robin Hood story. But to British TV viewers in the ‘80s, the merry friar would always be Phil Rose. The Manchester native played the character in the ITV show, Robin of Sherwood.
Rose hasn’t acted much on the small screen since that career defining-role. He seems to be doing well these days, though, judging from his Twitter posts. He celebrated his 69th birthday in May 2021 and spends his time caring for Albion, a barn owl he adopted from the South Sussex Wildlife Hospital.
Rebecca Eaton – Masterpiece, Age 75
Viewers might not be familiar with Rebecca Eaton’s face and distinct silver hair, but they sure would be with her work. As a producer, she’s best known for bringing British dramas to American TV programming through PBS’s long-running series, Masterpiece. Since the ‘80s, she’s been overseeing the creation of dramas like Bleak House and Prime Suspect.
These achievements earned her a spot on Time magazine’s list of the most influential people in the world in 2011. Now in her 70s, Eaton is still doing what she does best. She also took on a new role in 2020 as the head of The Masterpiece Trust, which seeks to fund the PBS-produced dramas.
Jenny Seagrove – The Brack Report, Age 65
An animal lover since her childhood in Malaysia, English actress Jenny Seagrove dreamed of becoming a vet. Life took her on another path, though, and she found herself starring in her breakout role in the 1983 film, Local Hero.
Seagrove, who’s also known for appearing in the TV series The Brack Report, went on to star in more small screen shows and movies throughout the years. She will star next in the 2021 comedy film, Off The Rails. Choosing not to have children, she spends her time caring for her horses and pets with partner Bill Kenwright.
Judith Barker – Coronation Street, Age 79
Judith Barker is a veteran of British TV. As a character actress, she became familiar with viewers thanks to her roles in the soap operas Coronation Street and Emmerdale. On Corrie, she played the role of Janet Barlow, a young woman who had an affair with Alan Howard, from the late ‘60s until 1977.
Barker portrayed mother-of-two Agatha Finn on Emmerdale. She last appeared in the ITV drama in 2020. And it looks like retiring is not yet on her mind as she moved on to star in the crime movie Pace in the same year.
Miriam Margolyes – Blackadder, Age 81
Modern audiences would be most familiar with Miriam Margoyles as herbology instructor Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter movies. That’s far from the only noteworthy role she’s had in her 56-year career. The BAFTA-winning actress is also known for her characters in the comedy series Blackadder in the ‘80s.
The British Australian performer, who also happens to be openly lesbian, has a reputation for being unpredictable and delightfully scandalous. She continues to be a well-loved figure in British media to this day. Margolyes’ latest stints include a recurring role in Call the Midwife and her own documentary series, Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian, in 2020.
Amelia Shankley – A Little Princess, 50
The novel A Little Princess has been adapted on screen several times. In the ‘80s, it was British actress Amelia Shankley who took on the role of Sara Crewe and acted her way into viewers’ hearts. Not surprising since she was already a Saturn Award-winner when she got the part.
From there, she honed her craft, starring in a film adaptation of Red Riding Hood and the ‘90s TV series Lovejoy. Although there seems to be no news announcing her retirement, Shankley hasn’t acted in anything since the 2010 musical film Butterfly Crush. According to her IMDB page, she now lives in Australia.
Sally Dynevor – Coronation Street, Age 59
Sally Dynevor’s Coronation Street character, Sally Metcalfe, has been through a lot in the 35 years she’s appeared on the ITV soap opera. She’s survived abuse from boyfriend Greg Kelly and a bout with breast cancer but remains standing strong to this day. Luckily, Dynevor’s real life turned out much happier compared to her reel one.
She’s been happily married to Emmerdale writer Tim Dynevor since 1995 and they celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2021. They share three children, including Phoebe Dynevor, the breakout star of the popular Netflix show, Bridgerton.
Beverley Callard – Coronation Street, Age 66
Beverley Callard is probably among the few actresses whose real-life tribulations rivals that of her onscreen persona. As Liz McDonald, she fell unluckily in love with several men and her fair share of flings. Meanwhile, the real-life Callard went through such challenges as a miscarriage, depression, and financial troubles.
But just like her Corrie character, things have been looking up for Callard in recent years. She is happily married to her fourth husband, Jon McEwan, and is taking a break from Coronation Street to focus on other projects. She is set to appear in a production of the play The Thunder Girls in 2021.
Eileen Derbyshire – Coronation Street, Age 91
Eileen Derbyshire’s portrayal of Corrie regular Emily Bishop was something audiences looked forward to seeing for 55 years. So, many were saddened when she announced that she would be leaving the soap in 2015 due to personal reasons. She held the title for the longest-serving female cast member at the time of her departure.
The good news is that there’s been talk of Derbyshire’s return to the cobbles since 2019. The bad news is that her comeback might not happen soon. In 2021, she lost her husband of 56 years, Thomas W. Holt, who died after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Eileen Atkins – Masterpiece Theatre: Sons & Lovers, Age 88
Eileen Atkins overcame her humble beginnings in north London, where she lived in public housing with her family, to becoming a BAFTA-winning actress celebrated in the United Kingdom. Although best known for her role in the TV series Cranford and Doc Martin, her acting résumé has plenty of other gems.
Beginning her career as a theater actress, she crossed over to the small screen and the big screen starring in such productions as Masterpiece Theatre: Sons & Lovers and The Crown. Atkins, who was made a dame in 1991, is now focusing on writing a memoir about her life. The book would be published in 2021 and would chronicle her rise to success.
Maureen Lipman – Agony, Age 77
Maureen Lipman’s name is well known both in and out of the acting scene. Another actress who began her career in the theater, she gained fame for her headlining role in the TV series Agony in the ‘70s and a supporting role in the Oscar-winning film The Pianist.
Lipman has also made the news due to her sometimes controversial opinions on world and United Kingdom politics. As of 2021, she has a recurring role on the soap opera Coronation Street. She’s taken a step back from her job, though, to focus on her health as she mourns the death of her longtime partner Guido Castro.
Sally Ann Matthews – Coronation Street, Age 52
Sally Ann Matthews first appeared on Coronation Street in her teens during the mid-’80s. She went on to portray the character Jenny Bradley for much of her younger years before leaving the cobbles in 1993. Matthews took a crack at other roles during her absence, including one in another soap opera, Emmerdale, in 2005.
She made her Corrie comeback ten years later and is still a cast regular as of 2021. Her career isn’t the only thing she’s taking seriously, though. She’s documenting her fitness journey on her Instagram page and running to raise funds for charities. No wonder Matthews is still looking mighty fine in her 50s!
Stuart Organ – Brookside, Age Unknown
Before he landed his most well-known role in the children’s drama Grange Hill, Stuart Organ already had a long list of acting credits to his name. He starred in the soap opera, Brookside for several years as Kevin Cross. Organ went on to star in many other British TV programs throughout the ‘90s and the ‘00s.
His small-screen work is sporadic in more recent years, though. In 2018, he reunited with his Grange Hill students to appear on Pointless Celebrities. Many fans pointed out how little he aged since his days teaching a P.E. class. He last appeared in an episode of the popular romantic series, Bridgerton in 2020.
Lee Cornes – Grange Hill, Age 72
Grange Hill really did bring together one talented cast, didn't it? Another one of them is comedian Lee Cornes. Honing his comic skills fresh from his university studies, he first got into stand-up comedy in the late ‘70s and crossed over to TV with roles in shows like Blackadder and Colin’s Sandwich.
Modern audiences might be most familiar with his work in Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, though. He wrote episodes of the popular cartoon program in 2002. Most recently, he appeared in the 2016 comedy film, The National Union of Space People.
Penelope Keith – The Good Life, Age 83
Penelope Keith has an acting résumé with over 60 credits. But to this day, British audiences remember her best as conservative housewife Margo Leadbetter in the ‘70s series, The Good Life. In a 2020 interview, she even revealed that people still sent her letters to tell her how they enjoyed watching her on TV.
Keith went on star in another popular show, To The Manor Born, from 1979 to 1981. These days, though, much of her life is spent living in her country home tending her garden. But that doesn’t mean that she’s turned her back against acting as she searches for the next script to act out.
Gerald Harper – Hadleigh, Age 92
After getting top-notch education from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Gerald Harper made his screen debut in the mid-’50s. Working his way up from an uncredited role to leading parts, he eventually starred in such memorable shows as Gazette in the ‘60s to Hadleigh in the ‘70s.
After starring in The Lady Vanishes in 1979, he seemingly fell out of love with acting and only made two screen appearances after. He then embarked on a career as a disc jockey on BBC Radio 2. Not much is known about Harper’s life now.
John Cleese – Fawlty Towers, Age 83
John Cleese cemented his status as an entertainment legend when co-founding the Monty Python comedy troupe in the late ‘60s. Together with the group, he starred in acclaimed productions under the Monty umbrella, including a BBC sketch show and five movies.
He also achieved success as a solo act headlining the ‘70s show Fawlty Towers and appearing in the Harry Potter films as Nearly Headless Nick. Cleese, who had a cancer scare in 2020, is still bent on making people laugh in his 80s. He released the comedy special, Why There Is No Hope, in the same year.
Prunella Scales – Fawlty Towers, Age 90
There’s nothing that can stop actress Prunella Scales from doing what she does best, not even Alzheimer’s. Her son says that despite her diagnosis, which was revealed in 2014, the former Fawlty Towers actress, can still work. Though she hasn’t booked acting jobs in several years, she appeared in a Channel 4 documentary series in 2019.
Together with her husband Timothy West, who is also an actor, she traveled to international destinations as part of the program Great Canal Journeys. The couple hosted the show for ten seasons before two new hosts took over for them in 2020.
Christopher Biggins – Porridge, Age 74
Not one to box himself in one creative endeavor, Christopher Biggins embarked on a career that saw him share his talents on the stage and the screen. He took on comedic parts in the ‘70s with roles in shows like Porridge and Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. he then showed off his dramatic chops in productions like I, Claudius, and Poldark.
Biggins, who is openly gay and in a civil partnership with Neil Sinclair, made a successful foray into reality TV in the 2010s that saw him compete in Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity MasterChef. In 2021, he tried his hand at live shopping presenting in collaboration with Create and Craft.
Felicity Kendal – The Good Life, Age 76
Felicity Kendal was already an established theater actress when the British TV audience fell in love with her Barbara Good in the ‘70s sitcom, The Good Life. Over four decades and several TV projects later, she’s still best remembered as the beloved suburban housewife.
She continues to work on the small screen today, with her latest appearance being a brief one in a 2019 episode of Pennyworth. Kendal went on The Graham Norton Show in 2021 and looked happy and beautiful, reminiscing about her sitcom days. She’s admitted to getting Botox in the past to keep looking her best.
Martin Shaw – The Professionals, Age 78
Martin Shaw is one talented performer. A drama school-trained actor, he showed off his acting chops in shows like The Professionals, which catapulted him to international stardom, and The Chief. What’s more, he’s lent his distinct voice to narrating several books, including The Silmarillion and The Hobbit.
He scored another hit TV show in the BBC crime drama, Inspector George Gently. Shaw, who now resides in a countryside home in Norfolk, will appear next in the four-part ITV series, The Long Call, which is based on the best-selling novel of the same title written by Ann Cleeves.
Michael Praed – Robin of Sherwood, Age 63
Born Michael Prince, Michael Praed christened himself with a new name he picked from a phone book to distinguish him from another actor with the same name. Decades later, and he’s the Michael that remained standing strong. That longevity is partly thanks to his portrayal of the legendary outlaw, Robin Hood, in the ‘80s cult classic show, Robin of Sherwood.
That success led him to score a role on the hit American primetime soap opera, Dynasty, playing a character called Prince Michael of Moldavia. In more recent years, he joined the cast of Emmerdale as Frank Clayton. He left the show in 2019.
Judi Trott – Robin of Sherwood, Age 60
Judi Trott initially trained as a ballet dancer before making the switch to acting. And upon being cast as Lady Marion in Robin of Sherwood, she found herself training in the skills of archery and swordsmanship. Willing to try new things, she even learned how to shoot arrows that were on fire!
Following the end of the ITV series in 1986, Trott only sporadically appeared on the screen. Her last acting credit is the TV movie Painted Lady, in 1997. Perhaps she chose to take a step back from the spotlight to care for her four children with husband Gary Spratling, who’s a camera operator.
Clive Mantle – Robin of Sherwood, Age 65
Standing at six foot five and a half, Clive Mantle was the perfect choice to play Little John, a character believed to be seven-foot-tall, in Robin of Sherwood. That’s not the only instance his tall stature worked in his favor. It also helped him score the role of Lord Greatjon Umber on the hit series, Game of Thrones.
Of course, Mantle relied on his acting chops as well to get him cast in popular hospital dramas such as Casualty and Holby City. He is set to return to the stage in 2021 as part of the New Theatre Peterborough production of the play Dead Lies.
Mark Ryan – Robin of Sherwood, Age 66
Mark Ryan has done it all. After performing in major West End musicals, he won the role of the Muslim merry man Nasir in Robin of Sherwood. Getting a taste for action, he branched out to stunt work and was the swordmaster for movies like King Arthur.
Another notable credit under Ryan’s name is gig voicing the Autobots in the Transformers movies. And if that isn’t impressive enough, he’s also written several books, including his autobiography, Hold Fast: A Hollywood Pirate's Tale. Ryan last appeared in the 2020 war film, Penitent.
Paul Moriarty – Coronation Street, Age 76
Not to be confused with the rugby player of the same name, Paul Moriarty is a British actor known for starring in the ITV series The Gentle Touch in the ‘80s. Before that, though, he got his start in the soap opera Coronation Street, where he played mechanic Harvey Colin for a year.
Moriarty appeared in another well-loved soap, EastEnders, in the ‘90s. He portrayed the dodgy businessman George Palmer. In more recent years, it seems like he’s taken a liking to the horror genre. He starred in the Netflix streaming TV series Creeped Out in 2019 and the horror anthology The Haunted Hotel in 2021.
Nicholas Day – Minder, Age 75
Nicholas Day has been honing his acting skills since his days as a student at Bristol University in the ‘60s. While there, he appeared in a long list of stage plays, including Mandragola and The Spanish Tragedy. No wonder he was more than prepared when he made the switch to TV.
Among his notable works are the crime dramedy series Minder and the Hollywood movie The Wolfman. Day is still hard at work despite being in his 70s. He appeared in two episodes of the hit drama The Crown in 2020. He portrayed Jim Prior, the late British conservative politician.
David Jason – A Sharp Intake Of Breath, Age 83
David Jason has lived an interesting life for sure. Best known for his comedic roles in the ‘70s show A Sharp Intake of Breath and the ‘80s sitcom Only Fools and Horses, he entertained both young and mature audiences. He lent his voice to animated productions like Count Duckula and Doraemon.
Jason, who lost a longtime partner to cancer, welcomed his first and only child at 61 years of age in 2001. Not one to let age get in the way of things, he is still acting into his 80s. Jason is set to star in a production of the play A Cold Supper Behind Harrods in 2021.
Michael Troughton – The New Statesman, Age 68
Coming from a family of actors, Michael Troughton seemed destined to follow in their footsteps. He began his career in the ‘70s playing bit roles in various TV shows. Eventually getting meatier roles, he appeared in popular programs such as Minder and The New Statesman.
Although he hasn’t acted since 2016, his blog shows him being active in the Doctor Who fandom. His late father, Patrick Troughton, portrayed the iconic British character in the ‘60s. Troughton currently works as an Audible producer and a voice actor for TV, adverts, and video games.
Linda Davidson – EastEnders, Age 58
People familiar with EastEnders will surely remember Linda Davidson’s practically unforgettable role on the show. She played the character of the weird and rebellious punk named Mary Smith. Contrary to her famous on-screen character, Davidson is quite level-headed in real life.
She quit acting in 1993 to pursue a career as a writer and media manager. Since then, she’s worked for reputable companies like BBC, Channel 4, and then Discovery Communications. Although she had retired from acting, she returned on-screen in 2019 to reprise her role as Mary Smith in one episode of EastEnders.
Kevin Kennedy – Coronation Street, Age 61
We really couldn’t see anyone else but Kevin Kennedy playing the role of Curly Watts in Coronation Street. He played that character for 20 years until the name almost became synonymous with his real-life identity.
His character was permanently written out in 2003, but he has mentioned that he is open to take the role again. Kennedy’s wish so far hasn’t been granted, but he has gone on to do other things with his life. He was a singer for a while, and he even released three albums. In 2019, he had a voice role in an episode of the animation sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys.
Jack Ryder – EastEnders, Age 41
Jack Ryder now mostly works off the camera as a director, but he cemented his place in the industry as an actor. His most popular role to date would be the character of Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders. Jamie Mitchell’s character was killed in December 2002. This ended Ryder’s run with the series.
Since then, he’s worked on series like MIT: Murder Investigation Team and movies like Popcorn. At some point, Ryder shifted his focus to stage productions, and it was from there he started to show his expertise as a director. He’s still a pretty busy theater director, but he found time to be cast in Holby City in 2018.
Emily Symons – Emmerdale, Age 53
Before Emily Symons became a familiar face in the British sitcom, she had established herself in her home country of Australia. She was in the famous Australian series Home and Away for almost ten years. After her time on the show ended, she moved to the United Kingdom and endeared herself to British fans with her role as Louise Appleton in Emmerdale.
Louise Appleton joined Emmerdale as a gorgeous barmaid, and by the time Symons left the show in 2008, she was a co-landlady. After her time at Emmerdale, Symons went back to Australia in 2010 to continue her role in Home and Away. She’s been on the series ever since.
Rowena Cooper – Crown Court, Age 88
Rowena Cooper may not be a world-renowned actress, but she managed to carve out an impressive career in British TV. After getting her first onscreen role in the ‘50s, she went on to star in programs like Crown Court in the ‘70s and Rumpole of the Bailey in the ‘80s.
Her other notable works include the mystery series Poirot and BBC’s Theatre Night. Speaking of theater, Cooper played Queen Victoria in a 2020 audio drama called Torchwood. She portrayed the historical character in two seasons of the program beginning in 2018.
John Nettleton – Yes Minister, Age 94
Best known for his roles in the TV series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister in the ‘80s, John Nettleton is an English actor who has a knack for playing government officials and politicians. He played Conservative Party member Sir Stephen Baxter in The New Statesman following his Minister stints.
Aside from his work on the small screen, Nettleton also forged a career on the stage and the big screen. Moviegoers might remember him best from his roles in Black Beauty and Oliver Twist. Since acting in a couple of stage plays in the mid-’00s, not much has been reported on his life.
Vivien Heilbron – Sunset Song, Age 79
Vivien Heilbron has always repped her Scottish heritage in her work. In fact, her best-known work is the TV adaptation of the novel Sunset Song by Scotsman Lewis Grassic Gibbon. She played the heroine Chris Guthrie and received praise for her powerful portrayal of the farm girl.
Heilbron’s commitment to her characters comes as no surprise considering her background. The Emmy-nominated actress was trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She’s currently a panel tutor at the Institute of Continuing Education in Cambridge, where she shares her love of Shakespeare.
Fiona Mollison – Strangers, Age 69
Born in Java, Indonesia, Fiona Mollison was sent to the United Kingdom in her youth. She originally intended to become a ballerina before falling in love with acting. And it’s a great thing that she did because she completed the cast of the late ‘70s crime series, Strangers.
Mollison also lent her talents to soap operas like Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, where she played one-episode characters. Her last onscreen gig was on the comedy show Boomers in 2015. That said, it remains unclear whether she’s taking a break from acting or already enjoying her retirement.
Jane Merrow – The Six Million Dollar Man, Age 81
Jane Merrow has had a long and varied career in the United Kingdom, her home, and the United States. The ‘60s saw her star in productions like Lorna Doone and The Avengers. The decade that followed took her on an adventure across the pond, appearing in The Six Million Dollar Man and the American soap opera Days of Our Lives.
She returned to her roots later in life, mainly working in small-screen and theater projects. Outside of the limelight, Merrow managed a family business that supplied bilingual employees to institutions like CERN. Her latest acting credit is the 2020 horror film The Haunting of Margam Castle.
Jean Boht – Bread, Age 91
It took a while before Jean Boht’s career finally took off, but it was all worth the wait. She became a household name in the ‘80s as Nellie Boswell in the hit sitcom Bread. At the height of the show’s fame, the cast was raking in around 21 million viewers.
Boht embarked on a long and varied career after Bread that saw her star in programs like Casualty, Skins, and Holby City. She opted for a more private life in recent years and is rarely seen in the public eye. She was spotted out and about in 2018 while on a walk around her hometown.
Helen Shapiro – Albion Market, Age 76
Although she appeared in several TV shows in the ‘80s, Helen Shapiro isn’t really known for her acting work. She’s best remembered by British listeners for her work as a singer with hits like Walkin’ Back to Happiness and You Don’t Know.
Raised in a traditional Jewish family, she became a believer in Messianic Judaism later in life and made multiple gospel albums. Shapiro continued to tour as a musician until 2002. She is now a minister with the musical trio Hebron and lives with her husband John Judd in London.
Hugh Laurie – A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Age 63
Hugh Laurie was already a household name in the British comedy scene before American audiences were introduced to him in the medical series House. Along with his frequent collaborator Stephen Fry, he earned laughs in the sketch show A Bit of Fry and Laurie and the historical comedy Blackadder.
His stateside career saw him become the highest-paid working actor on American TV. In 2010, his House salary reached an impressive $400K per episode. Laurie never forgot where he came from, though. He continues to star in British productions to this day and is set to appear in the film adaptation of The Amazing Maurice in 2022.
Helen Worth – Coronation Street, Age 72
Helen Worth has been portraying the character, Gail Platt, on Coronation Street for over 40 years. And it looks like some of the drama her onscreen persona faced in the soap spilled over to Worth’s real life. The British Soap Award-winner broke off her first marriage after her ex admitted to having an affair.
Fortunately, the experience led down a better path. She’s currently happily married to Trevor Dawson, who works as a deputy headmaster. With her role as Helen still very much secure as of 2021, Worth has everything she could ask for in life.
Judi Bowker – The Adventures of Black Beauty, Age 69
Then an unknown actress, Judi Bowker’s career, was jumpstarted by director Franco Zeffirelli in the ‘70s. Her casting in the film Brother Sun, Sister Moon led her to win roles in projects like the TV series The Adventures of Black Beauty. She also appeared in the film Clash of the Titans, which introduced her to American audiences.
Bowker founded a theater company with her husband, Harry Meacher, who is also an actor, in 1991. Since then, her onscreen work has been few and far between. We last saw her in 2016, looking as beautiful and wearing fantasy-themed makeup for the movie Tales of Albion.
Barbara Knox – Coronation Street, Age 89
It didn’t take long for Barbara Knox to score the role of a lifetime after she made her acting debut in 1962. Two years later, she was cast as Rita Littlewood (now Rita Tanner) in Coronation Street. She became a show regular in 1972 and stayed on for 48 years.
As of 2021, she still plays the character. However, her advanced age prevented her from being present on the soap opera’s set due to the safety and health protocols the crew had to follow. Knox might be enjoying the time off, though, being a private person by nature.
Marsha Fitzalan – The New Statesman, Age 70
The daughter of the 17th duke of Norfolk, Marcia Fitzalan, could’ve easily chosen a career outside of the public eye. Instead, she went into acting in the ‘70s and hasn’t looked back since. She’s best remembered as Sarah B’stard in The News Statesman and has co-starred in acclaimed films like Being Julia.
Her most prestigious role might be as the stand-in for Queen Elizabeth, though. Fitzalan did so in 2014 when her brother Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, presided over a rehearsal for the state opening of parliament. She hasn’t acted onscreen since 2011.
Sue Nicholls – Coronation Street, Age 79
Another longtime Corrie star is Sue Nicholls. She joined the ITV drama’s cast in the ‘70s years after leaving her role in Crossroads, a soap opera that aired on the same channel. She plays the character Audrey Roberts (originally Audrey Potter).
Aside from giving her steady work for over four decades, Nicholls has a lot to thank Coronation Street for. It was on the show’s set that she met her husband, Mark Eden, who died in 2021. A Corrie viewer also helped her detect a cancerous mole allowing Nicholls to get immediate treatment before getting worse.
Julie Goodyear - Corona Street, Age 81
Julie is a British actress born in Heywood in 1942. Julie participated in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Celebrity Fit Club. The talented actress was married 4 times and has a son: Gary. At 79, Julie is still considered one of the most talented actresses of recent times.
Jilly Johnson – Page 3, Age 69
Many of you might remember Jilly Johnson for the times she appeared on Page 3. The photos from her pictorials often highlighted her fantastic figure. Her family comes from Australia, but they moved to England when she was young.
During the '70s, she became part of a girl group named Blonde on Blonde. Johnson also made money from a brief acting career, appearing in "The Deadly Ernest Horror Show" and "Dunrulin." She has already retired as of 2021, but she was part of a documentary titled "Page Three: The N*k*d Truth" in 2020.
Linda Lusardi - Wish You Were Here...?, Age 64
Linda Lusardi has built a solid career as an actress and TV presenter. But for her, it all started as a glamor model, most notably appearing on Page 3 of the tabloid newspaper The Sun and in various other publications, such as Mayfair and Fiesta.
She transitioned into acting during the '80s and had roles in iconic shows of the era like "The Bill" and "Brookside." Since then, she has held a role on the soap "Emmerdale" for a year and as a presenter has hosted "Wish You Were Here...?," and "Miss Northern Ireland." In 2021 she participated in a show called "Celebrity Ghost Trip."
Sian Adey-Jones- A View to a Kill, Age 65
Sian Adey-Jones gained fame as a beauty queen during the '70s. She gained initial attention going after winning the "Miss Wales" pageant in 1976. This started a whirlwind pageant run that saw her finish as the second runner up at "Miss Universe" and first runner up at "Miss Britain."
She moved into glamor modeling, appearing topless in newspapers like The Sun. She also modeled in just a Scotland T-shirt to celebrate the only British team to qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. She acted in the 1985 James bond film "A View To A Kill." She has retired and resides in Ibiza with her husband, Rocco.
Gwyneth Powell – Emmerdale, Age 74
Gwyneth Powell is another Grange Hill star who got her start starring in soap operas. Before she became headmistress Bridget McClusky, she had recurring roles in Emmerdale and Coronation Street during the ‘70s. But being a trained teacher herself, it seems like the Goldsmith College graduate was destined to be cast in the BBC children’s drama.
Powell moved on to appear in more TV shows following her headmistress stint. Not much is known about her personal life except that she’s married to theater actor Alan Leith. She last appeared in an episode of a medical drama in 2019.
Jack Hedley – Colditz, Age 90
With his most memorable roles being in the ‘70s and the ‘80s, the name Jack Hedley isn’t one that’s familiar among TV viewers today. It also doesn’t help that the English actor hasn’t graced the screen in over two decades, last appearing in the 2000 miniseries St. Paul.
Still, older audiences would remember seeing Hedley’s handsome face in shows like Kate and Colditz as well as the James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. Those who want to delve into Hedley’s filmography can check out The New York Ripper. The full movie was restored to 4K quality in 2020.