An ode to Audrey

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog November 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Audrey Roberts has long been one of my favourite Corrie characters. Sue Nicholls has appeared as Audrey on and off since April 1979 and she always gives a flawless performance. She plays both comedy and straight drama with great skill and I for one hope she is a fixture on the cobbles for many more years to come. Here's why I am such a fan:

Audrey Potter first appeared on Coronation Street in April 1979, attending Gail's 21st birthday party in the Rovers Select (just where was that barn-like space supposed to be?). She made an immediate impact in several ways. Gail was overly frosty towards her absent mother; Ivy eyed her with a mixture of suspicion and contempt while Elsie Tanner and Fred Gee both took an instant liking to her, both for very different reasons! Audrey hit the ground running and Sue Nicholls managed to quickly establish herself in The Street during a particularly strong period in the programme's history.

Gail Potter/Tilsley/Platt/Hillman/McIntyre

From the word go her relationship with daughter Gail was spikey and strained. The writers gave the pair a backstory implying Audrey had been a less than hands-on mother during Gail's early years. For quite some time Audrey would only appear in Gail's life whenever she needed something or was escaping a dodgy bloke. After becoming a regular cast member in 1985, Audrey began to play a much more important role in Gail's life, offering opinions and advice on her daughter's countless husbands and keeping a watchful eye on her equally troublesome grandchildren. For me the ultimate Gail/Audrey storyline was the Richard Hillman affair. This tested their relationship to the limit and brought out a different, much stronger side to Audrey's character. The ditzy hair stylist who gave Hilda Ogden more than she bargained for was long gone.

Marriage to Alf

One of the best-loved on screen partnerships, it would originally have seemed like a rather left-field idea to put these two, very different characters together. However Audrey's marriage to Alf Roberts was ultimately much more successful than the writers could have imagined. They were a great contrast, Alf's penny pinching ways up against Audrey's constant shopping sprees and expensive tastes. I loved how marriage to Audrey also gave Alf a family. Deep down there was obviously a great deal of affection between them which was often very touching to watch, and is something sorely lacking in some of the on-screen relationships today.

Friendship with Alma

I adored the scenes between Audrey and Alma. In the early days of their friendship they were "gadabouts"; getting up to mischief involving a combination of shopping trips and, on  occasion, other people's husbands. They were always there for each other and the friendship endured. You could also tell both Sue Nicholls and Amanda Barrie got on well and loved acting together. The scenes they shared while Alma fought cancer were some of the best the show has featured.

Longevity

There is a lot to be said for allowing a character to develop over time. Audrey is a great example of this. These days characters tend to have so many outrageous dramas in such a short space of time they either become increasingly unbelievable or just burn out and leave. Audrey has developed from a good time girl in the early days to a responsible mother, grandmother and business woman. And now she is widely regarded as one of The Street's main matriarchs. Going back to 1979, who could have seen that happening?

Manchester Tart

No, not the fragrant Audrey! A lovely example of Gail defending her mother. And a great excuse to show Deirdre getting her just desserts ;)

So let's have your favourite Audrey moments. What do you like most about our Aud? And where would you like to see the character go in the future?

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