Sad news for Coronation Street fans. Jean Alexander, the iconic star who played Hilda Ogden on the soap, has passed away.
She died three days after her 90th birthday, with her niece Sonia Hearld confirming the news. "My aunt died sadly earlier today," Mrs Hearld, of Selby, North Yorkshire said on Friday.
The actress had been admitted to Southport hospital, Merseyside a few days ago for tests, but was discharged and allowed to return to her nursing home. She was readmitted on Tuesday, on her birthday.
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© Photo: PAJean Alexander starred in Corrie for over two decades
Mrs Hearld told The Guardian: "She was a great person and she will be missed. At the moment, it is a shock to the family and we are really just getting round to coming to terms with it. We were hoping to be celebrating her birthday this week, but that hadn't happened.
"She was in Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine. She had a very well-known face – she was once dubbed the all-time favourite soap star, I believe. She was part of people’s lives. She was very well liked in her time."
© Photo: PAThe actress played sharp-tongued, put-upon housewife Hilda Ogden
Jean was best known for her role as the sharp-tongued, put-upon housewife Hilda. She was one of Coronation Street's best-known stars, portraying the role from 1964 to 1987.
The Liverpool-born actress also starred as miserly shopkeeper Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine, and she had roles in Heartbeat, Where the Heart Is and Barbara.
She announced her retirement in 2012, two years after her last TV appearance.
