Coronation Street legend Barbara Knox reminisces on decades-long friendship with former co-star Thelma Barlow as she reveals they never had a ‘cross word’

by

As someone who’s followed British television for years, it always warms my heart to hear about lasting friendships forged on set. I was so touched to read about Barbara Knox, the iconic Rita Tanner from Coronation Street, sharing lovely memories of her decades-long bond with Thelma Barlow. It’s a beautiful reminder that these on-screen relationships often extend far beyond the cameras, creating genuine connections that last a lifetime.

Viewers of the ITV soap opera will fondly recall Barbara Knox and Thelma Barlow as the beloved characters Rita Tanner and Mavis Wilton, a partnership that lasted for more than twenty years.

Barbara, age 91, is still acting on the soap opera, but Thelma, 96, stopped appearing in 1997 after being on the show for 26 years.

Barbara recently shared some of her favorite co-stars in a new interview, reminiscing about the people she enjoyed working with on the show.

She shared that she and Thelma had supported each other for 25 years, helping each other overcome challenges.

Barbara recounted to The Mirror that she and someone else were once banned from a large Manchester store after they were caught filling a large tub with scarves during a sale.

‘We were in there rummaging, ‘is this any good to you?’

‘There is not many people who have been banned for rummaging is there! I miss her.’

It comes after Barbara reportedly ‘signed a one-year deal’ to continue in her iconic soap role.

The actress, famous for playing Rita Tanner on the long-running soap opera since 1972, is reportedly contracted to stay with the show until 2026. Show executives are keen to keep her as they celebrate the program’s 65th anniversary.

A source revealed to The Mirror in April that Barbara has a secure future on Coronation Street, and both she and the show’s producers are happy that viewers will continue to see her character on screen.

She continues to enjoy the show and cares deeply for the people who make it. Fans also hope Rita will remain a fixture on Coronation Street for many years to come, and that’s great for everyone involved.

The actress, who has been on the show the longest, will play a key role in the upcoming celebrations.

Daily Mail contacted ITV representatives for a comment at the time.

The actor first appeared in the ITV series in 1964, and later became a regular cast member in 1972.

Barbara is the second most tenured cast member on Coronation Street, with William Roache, age 92, who plays Ken Barlow, being the longest-serving.

It is thought Barbara commands a healthy £200,000 per year for her role as Rita.

Coronation Street actress Sue Nicholls, known as the ‘soap queen’, met Queen Elizabeth II when the Queen visited the show’s set in 2021. Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022 at the age of 96.

King Charles was welcomed by long-serving Coronation Street actors Barbara, William Roache, Sue Nicholls (who plays Audrey Roberts), and Helen Worth (who plays Gail Platt) in front of the Rovers Return pub.

She was thrilled to meet the stars of Coronation Street and, while visiting the set to mark the show’s 60th anniversary, discovered how they changed the way they filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a lifestyle expert, I remember those early post-lockdown days vividly! I was chatting on Lorraine recently, and it reminded me how cautious we all were. We were still really sticking to the two-metre social distancing rule, which definitely shaped how we interacted with each other back then.

She was amazing, and her eyes were incredibly bright and full of joy. We ended up talking about getting takeout hotpot.

Despite meeting countless people and attending several events each day, she truly listened to everyone and seemed genuinely interested in what they had to say. We were all at the Rovers, practicing our curtsies.

Read More

2025-09-27 03:50