COBBLES WOBBLE Star says she hates her first scenes
WITH her witty one-liners and tear-jerking performances, Audrey Roberts has become a rock among Corrie’s cobbles.
Now celebrating 40 years on Coronation Street, the hairdresser with her famous facial expressions has taken fans on an emotional rollercoaster since her debut in 1979.
But actress Sue Nicholls, 75, cringes when she thinks of Audrey’s first appearance at Gail Potter’s 21st birthday.
She said: “I have seen it back and I hate it. I could’ve done it better. But it’s a bit late to see if I can audition again.”
Despite that cobbles wobble, manhungry Audrey, longing for marriage, quickly made her mark. “Early Audrey was a feisty man magnet,” laughed Sue. Feisty but in a tarty way. She was anybody’s if they bought her a G&T.”
Audrey made sporadic appearances until 1983 when the soap’s bosses asked her to join the cast full-time. “Who’s going to say no to that?” said Sue.
It firmly established her as a favourite – and saw her at the centre of some of the show’s most famous plots.
Flirty Audrey soon settled down with Alf Roberts, played by Brian Mosley - creating one of the most-loved soap couples in telly history.
Strange
But the decision to pair her up with one of the most respectful characters at first didn’t sit too well with Sue.
“I just found it strange,” she admits. “Alf was lovely. He was a shop owner and a councillor. Possibly a bit boring. But as time went on, I realised how great it was. It opened up so many avenues for Audrey.”
They married in 1985 – twice. Sue revealed: “We had to do the wedding scene again. I don’t know if they didn’t have batteries in the camera.”
Marriage to respected Alf saw Audrey rise to become Lady Mayor – a role she revelled in. “I loved that stage. I can’t imagine how many outfits I had.”
But after 18 happy years together – a rarity in soapland – Audrey lost her man when she thought he’d just fallen asleep at a party. Sue, who shed real tears at the time, said: “I hope it came through she was very fond of him. She thought he’d gone to sleep. It was quite sweet.
“I didn’t need any tear gel. A wonderful character had gone. Little did we know the sadness about Brian would happen soon after.”
The actor died of a heart attack just six weeks after leaving the show.
Widow Audrey battled on and happier times came in 1997 when she took over the Street hair salon.
It became a source of much of the show’s comedy, with hilarious moments with the likes of Ken Barlow.
But heartache has never been far from Audrey, and in 2001 she lost her best pal Alma Baldwin – py played by y Amanda Barrie – to cancer. A year later Alma’s cousin Richard Hillman tried to kill Audrey for her money. Brian Caplan, who played Richard, was awed by her performance. “She gave it everything. We thought wow, what an actress.”
Staffordshire-born Sue got her big break at 21 on Crossroads. She also starred in The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin and The Professionals. This year she won an Outstanding Achievement gong at the British Soap Awards.
“I’m enjoying it more than ever,” said Sue. “Audrey gets on with her grandkids and she’s calmer.” Married to Mark Eden, who played the Street’s Alan Bradley, Sue’s grown close to her TV family – especially Helen Worth who plays Gail. “I love them. I don’t have kids, so to me my screen family are wonderful. Helen’s like my daughter and on Mother’s Day I always get a card. That’s joyous.
“I wouldn’t be on this show if it wasn’t for Helen. Life is a soap opera. That’ll be my book.”
Coronation Street Icons: Audrey Roberts - 40 Fabulous Years, ITV, tomorrow, 8pm.