Irene Sutcliffe has died aged 88.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star portrayed long-suffering cobbles favourite Maggie Clegg from 1968 until 1975, but sadly passed away on May 3rd.
While she was best known for her role in ‘Corrie’, she also starred in an episode of ‘Doc Martin’ in 2007, BBC daytime soap ‘Doctors’ in 2010, and in 2015 she portrayed The King’s Mother in US soap ‘The Royals’, which features Elizabeth Hurley as fictional Queen Helena.
Irene’s ‘Coronation Street’ character Maggie ran the corner shop from 1968 to 1974 and lived with her alcoholic husband Less Clegg (John Sharp) but divorced him in 1969.
The character’s sister was fellow Weatherfield legend Betty Williams (Betty Driver), who first arrived on the cobbles in 1969 to help Maggie run the shop.
Maggie emigrated to Zaire – which is now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo – in 1974 before a return to Manchester, only to depart again.
In 2003, it was revealed Maggie was still in the African country, and following Betty’s death in 2012 she wasn’t mentioned and didn’t attend the funeral.
Irene departed the soap in 1975 to head back to treading the boards.
She also appeared in classic TV shows such as ‘All Creatures Great & Small’ in 1989, and ‘Miss Marple’ in 1987, as well as ‘Hetty Wainthropp Investigates’ 10 years later.
Irene Sutcliffe dead aged 88
