Blanche has a sharp tongue and voices her disapproval at full volume, whether it's about the price of bread in the Kabin or her son-in-law Ken's failings. She may not like to show it, but her family mean the world to her.
If that Rita Sullivan was any more uppity, she'd need an oxygen mask!
1974 Brought up only child Deirdre as a single mum after bank manager husband Donald died when Deirdre was four.
1975 Deirdre and new hubby Ray Langton move in with Blanche. Gives up the corset business and takes a job in the corner shop.
1976 Takes up with old flame Dave Smith and moves to the Midlands to help him run his country club in Kenilworth.
1977 Tires of Dave and visits Weatherfield to look after her new granddaughter Tracy. Is engaged to posh vet Steve but they later split up.
1999 Moves in with Deirdre and match-makes Deirdre with Deirdre's ex, Ken Barlow.
2001 Nearly run over by incompetent learner driver Maxine, but pregnant cop Emma pushes her out of the way.
2002 Dates undertaker Archie but he dumps her after she wrongly accuses him of having an affair with Audrey Roberts.
2003 Dates supposedly rich pensioner Wally, who cheats on her with her granddaughter Tracy! Later buys No.7 for a by-now-pregnant Tracy, and moves in with her.
2004 Horrified when Tracy sells the baby to the supposed dad, Roy, and chucks her out. Convinces Tracy to reclaim her baby. Moves in with Ken and Deirdre.
2005 Books a hip operation on the cheap in Poland. Has a fall and worries about her mortality.
2006 Inherits her late friend Lena's dog, Pickles, who takes an immediate dislike to Ken!
2007 Decides to have a wake while she’s still alive so she can enjoy it. Attempts to become a real Mother Teresa when she realises no one has a good word to say about her – but it doesn’t last long!
Maggie was born in Yorkshire in 1937 and she won a place at London drama college RADA after leaving school. After touring in Rep for a number of years, she moved into TV and appeared in a variety of shows including The Forsyte Sage, Goodnight Sweetheart, In Loving Memory and The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.
She won the part of Blanche in Coronation Street after the death of the original actress, Patricia Cutts, and appeared on-and-off in the soap until being signed up as a regular character at the end of 1998. Maggie was widowed that same year after 28 years of marriage when her husband, solicitor Joe Stansford, died.
