{"id":67311,"date":"2023-10-03T08:48:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T08:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordcelnews.com\/?p=67311"},"modified":"2023-10-03T08:48:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T08:48:57","slug":"how-corries-rita-went-from-exotic-dancer-to-longest-running-female-soap-character-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordcelnews.com\/tv-movies\/how-corries-rita-went-from-exotic-dancer-to-longest-running-female-soap-character-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"How Corries Rita went from exotic dancer to longest running female soap character in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

She first appeared in Coronation Street as an exotic dancer called Rita Littlewood in 1964, but actress Barbara Knox made such an impression that bosses never forgot her. In 1972, Barbara was asked back and she begged Ken Dodd to release her early from his show. He kindly did and today Barbara is the longest- serving female TV soap actor in the world.<\/p>\n

To celebrate Barbara\u2019s 90th birthday, ITV1 is paying tribute to its flame-haired star by telling her tale with tributes from her friends and colleagues. Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts in Corrie , says, \u201cI love working with her, she\u2019s such a super actress and I love her as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n


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More praise comes from William Roache, who has portrayed Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since it started in December 1960. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot to say about Barbara,\u201d he says. \u201cShe\u2019s one of the strong matriarchal characters of a matriarchal show.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s got this gravitas,\u201d adds Jimmi Harkishin, who has starred as Dev Alahan since 1999. \u201cYou know when Barbara is in the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n

During her time on Corrie , Rita has been married three times, but her defining relationships have been with her Kabin colleagues Mavis Riley (Thelma Barlow) and Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden). <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe saw each other through thick and thin,\u201d smiles Thelma, and when Thelma handed in her notice on the soap, Barbara was devastated. \u201cWonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman,\u201d says Barbara of her friend. \u201cGreat to act with. I cried when she left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of Barbara, Malcolm adds simply, \u201cShe is an icon.\u201d Oldham-born Barbara was inspired to act after becoming entranced by the cinema aged just six when she started watching musicals with Fred Astaire and Betty Grable. \u201cThat\u2019s what did me,\u201d Barbara tells Bradley Walsh on the show. \u201cIt took you out of everything you were living through.\u201d<\/p>\n

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