Coronation Street enthusiasts will instantly have memories of Thelma Barlow, primarily those who loved her character of Mavis Riley. Though she’s been absent from the limelight for a long time, her memory has never really gone away from British hearts. Frequently spoken about in the soap even years after her departure, Mavis is still a much-loved character in Weatherfield’s storied past. And now, Thelma herself has returned in a quiet comeback.
From Weatherfield to the Seaside: A New Chapter Begins
At 95, Thelma Barlow emerged from retirement to appear in a brand new short film called Sleepless in Settle. The 20-minute comedy was filmed in the picturesque locations of Rye and Rye Harbour on the East Sussex coast and can now be seen for free on YouTube. The project was created and directed by Judy Flynn. She’s the one with whom Thelma first came into contact working on Dinnerladies towards the end of the 1990s.
Flynn was a secretary in the successful show, which also starred a few Coronation Street alumni, including Anne Reid, Sue Devaney, Sue Cleaver, and Shobna Gulati. Looking back on the movie, Thelma told the BBC that it has a message she finds heartwarming and timely. She called it the sort of quiet comedy that people need to see now. In her opinion, it has a nice message about how different generations of people can coexist happily. She also said she enjoyed making it, adding that it was fun.
Coronation Street: A Decades-Long Career – and a Wistful Farewell to Mavis
Thelma first appeared on Coronation Street in 1971 at Emily and Ernie’s engagement party. She reappeared the next year for their wedding and, by 1973, was a regular on the programme as Mavis Riley. Over the following 24 years, she was a recognisable figure on the cobbles before her character left to move to Cartmel, Cumbria. She moved to manage a bed and breakfast following the death of her husband Derek.
Though she moved away from the soap, Thelma continued her acting career, playing in productions such as Dinnerladies and appearing in an episode of Doctor Who. More recently, she was featured in documentaries that paid tribute to her erstwhile co-stars Malcolm Hebden and Barbara Knox.
In a previous interview on Good Morning Britain, Thelma spoke about the film when it was initially released. Hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls couldn’t help but ask if she would ever consider returning to Coronation Street. To that, Thelma replied that she would be far too terrified. She admitted the thought of doing something commercial in a big studio with all the accompanying pressure was daunting. Despite her return potentially not to the Weatherfield cobbles, viewers are sure to welcome back Thelma Barlow onto their television screens. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more such soap updates.
