Brooke Vincent honours soap legend Jean Alexander

Brooke Vincent honours soap legend Jean Alexander

By Lisa French, 15 August 2017

Coronation Street favourite Brooke Vincent honoured soap legend Jean Alexander by unveiling a memorial in the late star’s home town of Southport.

Brooke, who plays Sophie Webster in the ITV1 drama, dedicated a bench at the Southport Flower Show to the actress who found fame as Corrie battleaxe Hilda Ogden.

Jean, who passed away at the age of 90 last October, lived in Southport for many years and was a regular visitor to the annual flower show in Victoria Park.

In 2002 Jean posed for a photoshoot with comic actor Norman Wisdom when he opened the Southport Flower Show but often she attended as a regular visitor and mingled with the crowds to enjoy the show gardens and attractions.

Down the years, countless guests were stunned to find themselves standing alongside ‘Hilda’ in the floral marquees.

A memorial bench in Victoria Park will be unveiled by Jean’s Corrie successor Catherine shortly before the 2017 show opens.

Brooke said: “Jean was a true legend of Coronation Street and has always been an inspiration to me. Even after all these years, Hilda Ogden remains one of Weatherfield’s greatest characters.

“I’m so pleased to be able to honour Jean’s memory here in Southport, her home town and a place that she loved.”

Jean was born in Liverpool and developed her love of acting at an early age. She first appeared in Coronation Street in a minor role in 1962 and then returned two years later as the character Hilda Ogden.

She played Hilda for the next 25 years, winning a BAFTA for the character who was known across Britain for appearing on screen every week in her distinctive curlers, headscarf and pinny.

Hilda’s final appearance on the show on Christmas Day 1987 was watched by 27 million viewers and set a record for the show’s biggest-ever audience.

Jean lived for many years in the Churchtown area of Southport and was well known for her active role in the community long into retirement. In 2010, aged in her 80s, she led a successful campaign to set up a temporary library in the town while the main library was closed for refurbishment.

Jean’s family and friends said they were touched and delighted by the tribute at the Southport Flower Show.

Her god-daughter Susan Dutton and husband Phil Dutton attend the unveiling and, along with Jean’s nieces Sonia Hearld and Valerie Thewlis, agreed the star would have been very moved.

They said: “Jean would have been so pleased and honoured by this tribute. She loved the Flower Show and was a regular visitor to the event and spoke very fondly of it.”

Ray Roukin, General Manager of Southport Flower Show said: “Jean was a regular at Southport Flower Show over the years even giving Norman Wisdom a kiss here back in 2002. We wanted to mark Jean’s connection to Southport and what better way than with a permanent bench in her name at Victoria Park, home of the show.”

Southport Flower Show is on from 17th-20th August and is partnered by Everest. Tickets are available at www.southportflowershow.co.uk.