Wissenswertes

Best friends with Anne Reid; they frequently holiday together.

Has an older sister, Veda (née Piggott) McGhee (b. 1925).

She is associated with the phrase "I don't really know", which originated not as her catchphrase but as that of comedian Les Dennis in his regular send-up of her Coronation Street (1960) character in the 1980s sketch comedy The Laughter Show (1984).

Upon leaving school at 15 she found work as a secretary.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 30, a son Clive Barlow on March 27, 1960. Child's father is her [now ex] husband, Graham Barlow.

Has two grandsons - Thomas (b. 1992) and Matthew (b. 1995) - via son Clive.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 33, a son James Barlow on July 11, 1962. Child's father is her [now ex] husband, Graham Barlow.

Is a keen gardener.

When about 3 family moved to village of Hutton Rudby near Middlesborough. then about 3 years later moved to Huddersfield.

Brought up by her mother, Meggie, grandmother and older sister, Veda.

Educated at Longley Hall, Huddersfield.

She spent some time with the Huddersfield Light Opera Society during which time she was in Dancing Years.

She moved to London where she had a job as a secretary for a company making cinema commercials.

In her early days she had a job at an auctioneers while spending her evenings studying speech and drama at her local technical college.

She was only scheduled for one episode in Coronation Street but stayed for over 70 playing Mavis in the newsagents with Rita.

She joined Joan Littlewoods company before moving into rep at Exmouth then to Bristol Old Vic where she met Peter Baldwin who she would later work with in Coronation Street when he played Derek Wilton.