Coronation Street's Bernie Winter star Jane Hazlegrove has honoured one of the show's original icons. She took to Instagram to share her love for Violet Carson, who played the original cobbles battleaxe Ena Sharples in the ITV soap, with her 11,000 followers.
She posted an image of her looking delighted as she pointed up at a giant picture of the iconic character while also wearing a t-shirt depicting her. "Violet Carson.. above my head and on my chest! What an inspiring woman, both as an actor and as a character. Here’s to the Corrie battleaxes…may we battle on!" she wrote.
Violet appeared in the first-ever episode of Coronation Street and stayed with the show for two decades before hanging up Ena's famous hairnet. Ena spent much of her time criticising the activities and loose morals of the street's other residents.
Peter Ash, who plays her on-screen son Paul Foreman was one of the first to chime in and comment simply writing: "Two legends x." Jane responded: "She is! I’m still a work in progress son!!"
Her fans also had a lot of thoughts on the touching post and shared them with the star. @katherine.hassell gushed: "Love your T-shirt! That balcony shot is so great - would love a copy on my wall, but can’t find out who owns the copyright. I’ve got Violet on my office wall - blowing out the candles on Corrie’s 10th birthday cake. An old press shot that nearly ended up in a skip at work. That would have been a travesty!"
@kristianflynn33 commented: "I’m too young to remember Ena Sharples but I’ve seen clips you wouldn’t mess with her then I think you wouldn’t mess with Bernie either hope there’s more coming up with the Paul Gemma a Kit storyline your great on Corrie."
@johnneladderley felt Jane was being somewhat self-deprecating about her character writing: "Bernie is definitely not a battle-axe in my opinion. She's a free spirited, kind hearted loving lady. One of my favourite ladies on the show."
@gilly109109 agreed writing: "Ah you are way too lovely to be a battleaxe!"
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Violet had a long and celebrated four-decade-long career before joining Coronation Street at the age of 62
She was known for her work in radio, on stage and television, and was also a singer and pianist.
Her radio career even included a five-year period presenting and interviewing on Woman's Hour.
She also acted in numerous radio dramas and it was while recording a children's programme in 1951 that she first worked with Tony Warren, who would later become the creator of Coronation Street.
She died at the age of 85 on Boxing Day 1983, just over three years after her final Coronation Street appearance.
