Lynne Carol
Encyclopedia
Lynne Carol was an English
actress made famous by playing busybody Martha Longhurst in the soap opera
Coronation Street
from the second episode in 1960 until the character was killed off in 1964.
Carol gave a good characterisation of Martha Longhurst - a waspish beldam
, who first appeared in December 1960 and with Ena Sharples
, played by Violet Carson
and Minnie Caldwell, played by Margot Bryant
she made up the formidable 'coven
' that held court in the snug of 'The Rovers Return'. The verbal interplay between the three epitomised the serial's North of England humanity and yielded some of the 'richest moments' in the programme. The renown of Martha Longhurst became such that Carol's unpublicised visit to the Ideal Home Exhibition caused a near riot. She was advised to leave the premises for her own safety. Her fan-base even included such international stars as the actor Laurence Olivier
and the poet John Betjeman
.
After only three years in the series, the character of Martha Longhurst fell victim to the new producer's pen. They, seeming, felt that Carol would be likely to find other acting jobs. Carol was deeply shocked to read in the newspaper that the days of her character were now numbered. Martha 'died' quietly of a heart attack in the backroom (the snug) of the public house in May 1964. The subsequent burial took place in the Manchester
General Cemetery where a special grave had been prepared. Carol remained bitter about Martha's death, and believed to the end that a terrible mistake had been made, as her character was so popular. Viewers responded by complaining in their thousands and, later, the writers acknowledged that they had made a mistake.
Carol later appeared in a short-lived 60s BBC serial The Newcomers
- alongside Wendy Richard
, who later went on to play the character Pauline Fowler in EastEnders
and Alan Browning
, who later appeared in Coronation Street as Elsie Tanner
's (played by Pat Phoenix
) third husband - and the 1979 film Yanks
starring Richard Gere
.
character actor, who appeared in Coronation Street as Walter Biddulph, and they made their home in Blackpool. Her husband died in 1980. Lynne Carol had a son and a daughter.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actress made famous by playing busybody Martha Longhurst in the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
from the second episode in 1960 until the character was killed off in 1964.
Early life and career
A descendent of six generations of actors, Carol was born in Monmouthshire, where her theatrical parents were touring in a stage play. Carol started her own acting career at the age of only three-years-old. Before landing the part of Martha Longhurst, Carol worked in the provincial theatre for many years.Carol gave a good characterisation of Martha Longhurst - a waspish beldam
Hag
A hag is a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy or goddess having the appearance of such a woman, often found in folklore and children's tales such as Hansel and Gretel. Hags are often seen as malevolent, but may also be one of the chosen forms of shapeshifting deities, such as the Morrígan or...
, who first appeared in December 1960 and with Ena Sharples
Ena Sharples
Ena Sharples is one of the original characters from the British soap opera Coronation Street, and was played by Violet Carson.-Development:...
, played by Violet Carson
Violet Carson
Violet Helen Carson OBE was an English actress, best known for playing Ena Sharples, one of the original characters in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life and career:...
and Minnie Caldwell, played by Margot Bryant
Margot Bryant
Kathleen Mary Margaret Bryant was an English actress, best known for playing Minnie Caldwell on the soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life and career:...
she made up the formidable 'coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
' that held court in the snug of 'The Rovers Return'. The verbal interplay between the three epitomised the serial's North of England humanity and yielded some of the 'richest moments' in the programme. The renown of Martha Longhurst became such that Carol's unpublicised visit to the Ideal Home Exhibition caused a near riot. She was advised to leave the premises for her own safety. Her fan-base even included such international stars as the actor Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
and the poet John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
.
After only three years in the series, the character of Martha Longhurst fell victim to the new producer's pen. They, seeming, felt that Carol would be likely to find other acting jobs. Carol was deeply shocked to read in the newspaper that the days of her character were now numbered. Martha 'died' quietly of a heart attack in the backroom (the snug) of the public house in May 1964. The subsequent burial took place in the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
General Cemetery where a special grave had been prepared. Carol remained bitter about Martha's death, and believed to the end that a terrible mistake had been made, as her character was so popular. Viewers responded by complaining in their thousands and, later, the writers acknowledged that they had made a mistake.
Carol later appeared in a short-lived 60s BBC serial The Newcomers
The Newcomers (TV series)
The Newcomers was a late 1960s BBC soap opera which dealt with the subject of a London family, the Coopers, who moved to a housing estate in the fictional country town of Angleton. It was broadcast in bi-weekly half hour episodes from 5 October 1965 until 28 November 1969...
- alongside Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
, who later went on to play the character Pauline Fowler in EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
and Alan Browning
Alan Browning
Alan Browning was an English film and television actor, born in Sunderland. He is best remembered as the character Alan Howard in the television series Coronation Street, a role he played from 1969 until 1973...
, who later appeared in Coronation Street as Elsie Tanner
Elsie Tanner
Elsie Tanner is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on Coronation Street and appeared in the very first episode...
's (played by Pat Phoenix
Pat Phoenix
Patricia "Pat" Frederica Phoenix was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street.-Early life and career:Born in Ireland to Anna Maria Josephine Noonan and Tom Manfield, but moved to Manchester before...
) third husband - and the 1979 film Yanks
Yanks
Yanks is a 1979 John Schlesinger film, set in World War II in the village of Dobcross, in Greater Manchester, England. Starring Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Lisa Eichhorn, Rachel Roberts and Tony Melody....
starring Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
.
Personal life
Carol married Bert Palmer, a LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
character actor, who appeared in Coronation Street as Walter Biddulph, and they made their home in Blackpool. Her husband died in 1980. Lynne Carol had a son and a daughter.