No More Hot Pot! Betty Driver Has Died. Bill Kenwright Attends Funeral!

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 7:12am

Betty Driver has died aged 91.

The actress had been in hospital for six weeks.
She had also been unwell earlier in the year and was treated for a chest infection in 2010.
The ITV spokesman said: "She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her."

Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan in Coronation Street, said: "I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character, a professional to her fingertips - she will be greatly missed."

Julie Goodyear, fellow barmaid Bet Lynch in the soap, said: "It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years.
"We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend and a very dear friend."

She said at the time: "I love working. I can't retire, I won't retire - I never ever will."




Betty Driver: the Rovers Return's longest serving barmaid
The actress who played barmaid Betty Turpin in the ITV soap for 42 years has died today aged 91, said a spokeswoman for the programme.

Betty Driver, famous for her role as a Coronation Street barmaid, was already a household name in the 1940s as a leading vocalist with some of the top dance bands in the country.

She was persuaded out of retirement in 1969 and since, as Betty Williams, became the longest-serving barmaid in the history of the Rovers Return. Her hot-pot, served at lunch-time in the Rovers, became an iconic dish which was subsequently offered as a ready meal in United Kingdom supermarkets.

But before she became a full-time actress she sang with such bands as Henry Hall's and became a major recording artist in her own right.

Like Vera Lynn, she entertained the troops during the Second World War with the Ensa organisation (Entertainment National Service Association).

Betty Driver was born on May 20, 1920, in Leicester, the elder of two daughters. She was pushed into a life on the boards by her star-struck mother, Nell. She joined the Terence Byron Repertory Company at the age of nine, and turned professional aged ten in a touring production of 'Mixed Bathing'. At 14 she landed her first film role and trod the London stage.

She appeared in George Formby's 'Boots! Boots'! but her song and dance scene was cut by Formby's domineering wife, Bessie, who also danced in the film and did not want to be upstaged by a child.

While still in her teens she appeared in a number of films and was making her name as a vocalist. During the war she teamed up with band-leader Henry Hall and for seven years became a regular and popular feature on his top radio show Henry Hall's Guest Night. She also had her own show, 'A Date With Betty'.

By now she had become a major recording star with such hits as The Sailor With The Navy Blue Eyes, Macnamara's Band, Pick The Petals Of A Daisy, Jubilee Baby and September In The Rain.

Soon she was to travel to Australia, where she performed in her own show, and her career took her to Cyprus, Malta and the Middle East.
On her return home, she appeared in various Ealing comedies.

Aged 32, Ms Driver married South African singer Wally Peterson. They returned to South Africa, but Betty came back home after a few months and ended the marriage after seven years.

In 1964, she auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 'Coronation Street', but the producers wanted someone more slender. Two years later she was given the role of canteen manageress in the first of two 'Coronation Street' spin-off series, 'Pardon The Expression'.
However, in one scene, in which she had to throw actor Arthur Lowe, she dislocated her hip and injured her back and decided to retire from showbusiness.

She and her sister Freda and their father Frederick took over the Cock Hotel in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, and later the Devonshire Arms, Cheshire.
In 1969, one of her customers, Harry Kershaw, the 'Coronation Street' producer, asked if she would be interested in appearing in the show.
She agreed and started out as Betty Turpin becoming, after "marriage", Betty Williams.

Ms Driver was awarded the MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List of 2000.




Updated On: 4/20/12 at 07:12 AM

[theatrepaul]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 12:23pm

How very, very sad. She always came across as a really lovely lady and a very talented actress.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 12:36pm

Take note that she retired form a hugely successful career in recording, theatre, film, variety and radio in the early 1960's! Then got another career with 'Coronation Street'!
What an absolute trouper.
That giggle will long ring around The Rovers Return.

'Hot Pot Ken'

R.I.P

Updated On: 10/15/11 at 12:36 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 1:31pm

I always liked her as a kid- she was kind iof like an auntie I'd really like to have.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 1:49pm

The Street opens its heart with memories and tributes.

Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape):
"Betty. What a lady. What a life. Wonderful to have known her xx"

Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster):
"Just heard that Betty Driver has died. Absolute legend. She will be so missed x Thoughts are with Mark Hudson who was also very close x"

Andrew Lancel (Frank Foster):
"Dear wonderful Betty Driver has died. An extraordinary lady and life. Honoured to have met her and be in her company. A true legend. Xxx."

Antony Cotton (Sean Tully):
"Today is a very sad day. I am devastated. We've lost our Betty. She was one of the funniest people I've ever met and definitely the kindest. I will miss her so much. Her star shone bright and long. Sweet dreams, Duck."

Charlie Condou (Marcus Dent):
"Very sad to hear our wonderful Betty Driver has passed away. A true Corrie legend. She will be missed #ripbetty"

Graeme Hawley (John Stape):
"Bless you Betty. A truly beautiful person. #RIPBetty XXXxx"

Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price):
"RIP the amazing legend Betty Driver. X"

Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper):
"Just adding mine to the chorus of voices saying farewell to our Betty. They don't make em like you anymore. Feel so lucky to have known you."

Vicky Entwistle (Janice Battersby):
"I send you a tender kiss & huge cuddle Miss Driver!Amazing talented Lady with an enormous heart. Enjoy your catch up with Freda & Maggie.x"

Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald):
"I have known Betty since I was 15 years old, we always had a very good relationship. I was fortunate to be one of her friends and I am going to miss her."

Richard Fleeshman (Craig Harris):
"So sad to hear about Betty Driver. Such a lovely lady. She will be missed."

Jonathan Harvey (Coronation Street scriptwriter):
"RIP Betty Driver, Amazing woman, will be missed by so many."

Daran Little (former Coronation Street scriptwriter):
"Remembering happy times with Betty Driver. I'll never forget them. A sad day for variety, big band and TV."

Chris Fountain (Tommy Duckworth):
"So sad to hear about betty, I didn't work with her for long but what an amazing woman, so friendly, a true legend and pro.. Rest in peace x."

Helen Worth (Gail Platt):
"Our dearest Betty was loved by all she met, and will be sadly missed by all the cast and everyone working on the 'Street'. The legacy she leaves is of laughter and love. The Rovers will not be the same without our adorable Betty."

Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald):
"Our Betty - the true and constant Queen of The Rovers. The most famous street in the Kingdom will never be the same now you are gone, but those sparkling eyes and cheeky laugh will live with me forever."

Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch):
"It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true Icon and legend and a very dear friend. The very foundation of 'The Rovers Return'. She will be missed and remembered by millions."

Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor):
"Such a sad day. Betty we will miss you so much, a legend and an amazing lady. Loved so much by so many people. God bless X.

Julia Haworth (Claire Peacock):
"The definition of a remarkable lady. Betty Driver. Enormous talent, enormous fun. Rest in Peace sweetheart x."

Kieran Roberts (Coronation Street's executive producer):
"Betty was a wonderful actress and remarkable woman. It is humbling to think that the 42 years she spent on Coronation Street was just half of her extraordinary career, but Coronation Street certainly benefited when she decided to join our show in 1969.
"For more than four decades she delighted many millions of Coronation Street fans with her fantastic performance in countless great stories both dramatic and comic. Betty was always a delight to work with and whilst there is a great sadness at her passing away, Betty will be remembered by everyone on Coronation Street with tremendous admiration and affection."

Bill Roache (Ken Barlow):
"I loved Betty dearly, she was not only a colleague, she was a friend and godmother to my son James. She will be missed in the Street but she will be missed moreso as a warm and loving person."

Georgia May Foote (Katy Armstrong):
"So sad to hear about betty driver, she was an amazing lady. My thoughts are with her family. She will be sadly missed x."

Sally Lindsay (Shelley Unwin):
"Just cried with an old friend on the passing of the wonderful Betty Driver, she taught me more about comedy timing than anyone I've ever met. The world was a better place because she was in it. Goodnight Betty,rest in peace I loved you very,very much.x x"

Samia Smith (Maria Connor):
"Such a sad day, I will miss Betty so much and am honoured to have called her my good friend. An amazing lady, loved by all who knew her xx."

Other stars from the land of soap have also paid tribute to Driver:

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale):
"Just heard the sad news about Corrie's Betty. She was very kind to me when I played a small part on the show years ago. A lovely lady. RIP.x"

Ashley Margolis (Ricky Campbell, Hollyoaks):
"So sad to hear that Betty driver has died!! Inspirational!! She was 91.. A true legend.. And she made a good hot pot!!"

Sharon Marshall (This Morning soap expert):
"So very sad to hear the wonderful Betty Driver has passed away. she was loved by millions. What an amazing lady."

Charley Webb (Debbie Dingle, Emmerdale):
"So sad to hear the news about Betty Driver....my thoughts are with her family and everyone at Corrie."

Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale):
"Just heard the news about Betty Driver god bless her may she rest in peace. True legend lost. #RIPBETTYDRIVER :'-(" Updated On: 10/15/11 at 01:49 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 5:01pm

Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden on 'marvellous' Betty Driver

Jean Alexander and Betty Driver worked on 'Coronation Street' together for 18 years'

"She was such fun to work with," recalls Jean Alexander, who played Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden, of her former co-star Betty Driver, who has died at the age of 91.
Betty Driver was one of the soap's best-loved and longest-serving stars.

Here, Miss Alexander remembers the actress, with whom she worked for 18 years.

"Betty was great fun. She came a few years after I joined and we became great friends. She'd always got a giggle in her voice. A great sense of humour.

"She was marvellous to work with. Professional to the fingertips. Absolutely. She knew every word, she never fluffed a line, she never let anybody down, she was absolutely brilliant.

"She only had to look at me and say: 'Now then Hilda,' and I would be off in fits. She creased me when we had scenes together. I could hardly do the scene for laughing. She had the mobile facial expressions, which said everything. She didn't need to say anything sometimes. You could tell by her face what the character was thinking.

"Every time I had scenes with Betty we had a load of fun and the giggles, and you don't get that all the time when you're working in this business.
"We didn't have any big storylines together - the only time I saw Betty was in the pub, as a rule. Hilda was a cleaner in the pub so I saw Betty quite a lot in there but I don't think we met anywhere else.

"We kept in touch by the phone. When I was in it, we went into Granada every day and did rehearsals. But they don't do that now. They might be somewhere else on location, or they may be in the studio doing half a dozen different scenes, so it's impossible to go and see people. So I didn't see Betty much once the format changed.
"She was a lovely person. I shall miss her very much. We worked well together for a long time. She'll be very much missed by quite a lot of people, not just for the work but for the friendships'.
Updated On: 10/15/11 at 05:01 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 5:27pm

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 5:27pm

....but they did find it eventually......

http://www.food.com/recipe/betty-turpins-hot-pot-52682
Updated On: 10/15/11 at 05:27 PM

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 3:22pm

It's a good job Kenwright has made his money in football and theatre - his acting has been wooden this week.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 6:20pm

I didn't even know he was going to be in it until I saw him on my TV tonight! How odd, is there any particular reason he was in it!?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 8:11pm

He's played her son in the program since the late 1960's and has been in it on and off ever since.


Gordon Clegg is the son of Betty Williams and sailor Ted Farrell.
When Betty gave birth to him she was unmarried, so Gordon was adopted by Betty's sister Maggie Clegg and husband Les, who raised him.
Gordon didn't learn that Betty was his mother until 1975.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 8:41pm

Well I never knew that!

[Chickiequotes85]

Posted: 4/23/12 at 1:08pm

Hooray for Betty's hotpot! :)