Fiery red hair, Presbyterian work ethic andaGod given talent. How Hilda was made in Scotland

CORRIE legend Jean Alexander’s determined work ethic – and fiery red hair – stemmed from her Scottish ancestry, family members have told The Sunday Post.

The iconic actress, who played cleaner Hilda Ogden in the long-running soap, died in hospital on Friday night after being admitted on her 90th birthday.

According to relatives, her hardworking Scottish presbyterian background was the secret ingredient that helped her become one of Britain’s bestloved stars.

Niece Sonia Hearld, 64, said that Liverpool-born Jean was fiercely proud of her Scots roots and heritage.

She said: “She was determined to be a success.

“My grandfather Archibald Alexander Hodgkinson had Scottish ancestry. Perhaps that’s where her red hair came from.”

Of her upbringing, Jean once said: “We were plain Scots Presbyterian. “Hard-working and churchgoing. “We had no fridge, washer, inside toilet or garden. But being poor didn’t do any harm – you just tried to better yourselves.” And better herself she did. Jean grew up in a terraced house in Toxteth with parents Archie and Nell and her brother Ken.

Electrical engineer Archie supported the whole family on a weekly wage of £3.

Sonia said that “Auntie Jean” would have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from her loyal fans since her death was announced.

She said: “She’d have been absolutely amazed, humbled and delighted.

“She appreciated how her fans felt about her.

“She used to say, ‘without them I wouldn’t be where I am today’.”

Last night, tributes honouring the soap icon continued to pour in.

Among the most poignant were those from Corrie stars past and present.

Comedian Les Dennis, who plays Michael Rodwell on The Street, said: “Goodbye to a true Corrie great. You enriched all of our lives.”

Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully, tweeted: “The magnificent Jean Alexander. My favourite episode of Coronation Street ever was Hilda singing Wish Me Luck.”

Julie Goodyear, who played Bet Lynch, said Alexander was “an absolute joy to play scenes with”, adding she was “the exact opposite of the character she played”.

“This proves what an amazing actress she was,” added the former Rovers Return landlady.

“Jean was a very private person and meticulous in her work. She was always word-perfect. Rest in peace, Jean.”

Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in the soap since its first episode in 1960, described working with Alexander as “wonderful”.

“She could make you laugh, particularly with Hilda’s comedy singing, but she could also deliver incredibly moving performances and make you cry.”

Jean played much-loved Hilda between 1964 and 1987.

Her on-screen look, complete with hair rollers, helped make her one of the most beloved TV characters of all time.

Hilda was the strong-willed wife to henpecked Stan, played by Bernard Youens.

Even though she never married, Jean was swamped with condolence cards when her on-screen husband Bernard died in 1984.

She left the soap three years later to the dismay of her millions of fans.

Her final turn as Hilda during the 1987 Christmas special drew 27 million viewers.

But, although she loved playing Hilda, Jean didn’t want to be like her iconic character. She once said: “She was a downtrodden, poor little soul, plodding away, doing her best all the time, always aspiring to better things.”

Jean suffered a stroke in 2014 and moved to a care home. She was taken to hospital for tests recently and was allowed to return home.

But the actress was readmitted to hospital on Tuesday last week, her 90th birthday, before dying peacefully three days later.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman confirmed tomorrow night’s episode would be dedicated to her.

Show bosses are considering having characters reference the death of Hilda, who would now be 92.