Development Hilda Ogden

1 development

1.1 characterisation
1.2 ogdens
1.3 departure

development
characterisation

hilda ogden, trademark hair curlers , pinny, has been described classic hard-working class northern woman. voice breaking glass , temper match . actress jean alexander explained interpretation of hilda s head scarf , curler look: hilda, roots in liverpool , that’s first noticed curlers , headscarf look. curlers put under headscarf factory girls [...] had hair tied , scarves stop fashionable long hair getting caught in machinery @ work. had curlers in place in case got asked out on date, they’d ready night out after shift. take off headscarf, remove curlers , shake down hair. hilda’s background mine , recollection have been same headscarf born on-screen. alexander stated in 2010 based hilda on bits of differing, eccentric people had seen in youth in liverpool.

a term has been described synonymous hilda ogden busybody . critic guardian, grace dent, has suggested hilda spent 70s providing unofficial town-crier service coronation street scandal. hilda known sleep propped in bed 1 eye open see time ken barlow s female friends left. (or time carried out in bodybags. ken s never had luck women.) added hilda mould other popular soap gossips made from, including dot cotton eastenders, lynda snell archers , martha huber desperate housewives.

the ogdens

hilda , husband stan voted britain s top romantic tv couple in 2002.

the ogdens, hilda , husband stan (bernard youens), have been hailed 1 of coronation street s favourite couples. bickering pair stayed through mishap , financial difficulty. working-class couple, remained screen double act 20 years until actor bernard youens died on 27 august 1984, forcing writers of soap kill off stan on-screen. scene following stan s screen funeral, showing hilda weeping @ sight of stan s signature spectacles, has been described 1 of moving moments in tv history , instrumental in winning [jean alexander] royal television society s best performance award 1984-5 . neil marland, worked granada television s stills photographer 30 years, has described scene terribly poignant, adding, crying , camera tracked in – had undo handkerchief, , in glasses. broke down sobbing. and, of course, had picture of this. left minute or sobbing. then, got nearer, went, jean, jean... , sat bolt upright , said, picture want neil? m acting . amazing because on floor in floods of tears.

commenting on screen partnership, actress jean alexander has said, real pleasure working bernard youens, played screen husband, stan. success have had down bernard because worked team , each knew how other want play scene. happy screen partnership strictly professional. didn t socialise after work. alexander has stated ogdens brilliant set-up: couple in street married – permanently. ones owned own house else rented, stayed , didn t stray or have affairs and, yes, bickered among let else criticise either of them , in arms.

hilda , stan ogden voted britain s top romantic tv couple in 2002, in poll of more 5,000 people carried out ntl:home. beat off competition friends couple monica geller , chandler bing , dot , jim branning eastenders. in 2005 couple topped poll. ogdens voted itv s favorite tv characters in survey broadcast magazine, took place coincide 50th anniversary of network. beat minder s arthur daley , prime suspect s dci jane tennison, took second , third place respectively.

departure

after 23 years playing hilda, jean alexander decided leave coronation street in 1987. according alexander in 2010, right time leave writers had run out of ideas hilda , character, hilda had run out of steam. added, other half had gone , have scraped along. didn t want that. alexander went see show s producer bill podmore inform him did not want renew contract.

her decision leave prompted outcry fans , save hilda campaign launched, many did not realise actress had made own decision depart. hilda s final scenes in programme aired on christmas day 1987, when locals in rovers return joined hilda in has been described stirring rendition of wish me luck wave me goodbye .

on-screen, hilda departed hartington, derbyshire, make new life herself housekeeper doctor lowther. 27 million viewers watched. remains highest-rated episode in coronation street s history. has been described moving scene in coronation street did not involve death. writer behind memorable episode depicting hilda ogden s departure, attracted record soap opera audience, leslie duxbury.

since departure in 1987, various producers have expressed desire see hilda ogden on coronation street. in 1990, jean alexander reprised role after two-and-a-half years part of itv s 27-hour charity telethon. episode showed visiting stan s grave. in 1998, character resurrected again, part of special direct video film.

however, in 2005 actress jean alexander ruled out ever returning role of hilda ogden, due coronation street s overemphasis on sex , s sleeping whom . criticised soap not being fun enough , disapproved of modern storylines, saying allowed drag on forever . added:

a spokesperson soap responded alexander s criticism, saying, don t subscribe jean s opinions. every week 12 million people across country tune in entertained drama in coronation street. alexander reportedly declined return hilda part of coronation street s 50th anniversary celebrations in december 2010. allegedly offered large sum of money agent joan reddin stated: s not interested in getting involved again. when interviewed in 2010, alexander further discussed reasons not wanting return role of hilda. said, impossible me recreate hilda. totally different scrubber left street [...] m sorry, after 23 years couldn t recreate character – , didn t want play was. hilda 91 now. left housekeeper lovely doctor , part of village community. has status wanted. have changed m sure has. , think fans disappointed. have spoiled memories people had of her.