From Coronation Street cobbles to the Palace
THE Queen has been to Weatherfield more than once so it seems only fair that two grand ladies of Coronation Street should return the honour and visit Buckingham Palace.
Veteran Corrie stars Barbara Knox and Eileen Derbyshire yesterday received MBEs from the Queen, who is a big fan of the 50-year-old soap.
Barbara, 77, who plays Rita Sullivan, made her first appearance in 1964, while Eileen, 79, who stars as Emily Bishop, has been on the show since 1961.
And the two veterans of the Street, who admitted they had been so nervous they could not remember much of what the Queen said to them, were looking forward to taking their gongs home. Barbara joked: “I’ll be wearing it in the caff.”
And Eileen said of her honour: “I think Emily would be tempted to sell this for a good cause. But I’m certainly not going to.”
Also receiving her MBE yesterday was actress Anne Reid, 75, who starred as Valerie Barlow, on the soap between 1962 and 1971.Eileen, left, and Barbara at Buckingham Palace yesterday