A Corrie stalwart has ruled out a return to the iconic street while delving into her reasons for staying away.
The esteemed Thelma Barlow, aged 95, who portrayed the beloved character Mavis Wilton on the long-standing ITV series Coronation Street, graced screens first in 1971.
With over two decades under her belt, Thelma became synonymous with the soap and cemented herself in fans hearts through her portrayal of Mavis, notably for her dynamic with Rita Sullivan (played by Barbara Knox) at the Kabin and her wedded life with Derek Wilton.
Yet, the character bid farewell in 1997, pursuing a new chapter as a bed and breakfast owner in Cumbria.
Making an appearance on Good Morning Britain this Monday (July 1), Thelma sat down to chat about her latest project, Sleepless in Settle the movie that lured her out of retirement, revolving around a mum's quest to find the perfect match for her son.
It wasn't long before talk turned to Coronation Street. Susanna Reid and Ed Balls posed the question to Thelma, pondering her potential comeback to the renowned soap a prospect set to disappoint eager viewers, reports the Mirror.
Ed asked: "Aren't you tempted for a cameo role? Maybe with Gail leaving?"
A chuckling Thelma responded: "No. Id be far too terrified."
Expanding on her trepidations, she expressed her intense anxiety about stepping back into a highly commercial space and dealing with the immense workload, saying: "I'd be so frightened to do something that was commercial and in a big studio. And the pressure of work frightens me to death."
Eager for more assurance, Susanna probed: "Is there no way they can drag you back to Corrie?" To which Thelma declared a firm stance: "Never say no.
"But I would just be too frightened. It's important for me to get it absolutely perfect. It was fine doing this film with friends, because they forgive you immediately."
Thelma has made a return from retirement for her latest film, Sleepless in Settle, penned and directed by her former Dinnerladies colleague, Judy Flynn. Discussing how she persuaded Thelma to come out of retirement for the film, Judy revealed: "We met again at her 90th birthday party and I asked if I could write something specifically for her and she agreed.
"Filming with Thelma was a total joy. She had so much energy and was full of ideas."
