Father Ted icon explains how her new Coronation Street character answers to the soap’s powerful legacy

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Even after three decades, the character known for constantly offering drinks to the priests on Craggy Island is still incredibly memorable and continues to follow actress Pauline McLynn. So, why did no one mention the role when she joined Coronation Street? McLynn believes the cast and crew were being considerate, wanting to avoid distracting her during the initial, overwhelming experience of joining a long-running show. She also notes that when an actor has a well-known past role, it’s often unclear whether people want to acknowledge it or prefer to focus on the future.

It’s lovely when people still enjoy Father Ted! It’s just that I don’t remember much about it myself, so watching an episode is often a fresh experience for me.

Honestly, I think Maggie Driscoll’s new role as the landlady of the Rovers Return is going to be her biggest yet – it could even overshadow some of her other fantastic work! She really made an impression right away as the head of this big, blended family. And it’s great to see Catherine Tyldesley back as Eva Price after all this time – those two are going to be amazing together.

This isn’t McLynn’s first time on a soap opera. She previously appeared on EastEnders in 2014, playing the wife of the villainous Nick Cotton, but that was just a short-term part. This new role as Maggie and her family is intended to be much more significant and lasting, placing them as central characters in the show. Did she have any concerns about committing to such a demanding, long-term job?

Not at all! In fact, I was happy to have a long-term job. I wasn’t expecting to join Coronation Street, so when my agent mentioned the opportunity, I immediately said yes – probably before they’d even finished speaking! The scripts are fantastic, the character is wonderful, and it’s a great chance to really use my skills as an actor.

Since 1983, McLynn has been working as an actress – as she playfully puts it, “getting away with it!” – and has also written novels and plays. But joining the cast of Weatherfield is proving to be a particularly rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. She describes it as her most challenging role yet, requiring a huge amount of work and the quick, accurate application of every skill she’s ever learned. She enjoys the range of emotions she gets to portray – from crying to being confrontational – and finds the fast pace and quick results very satisfying.

I was so thrilled to play a strong, mature woman – it’s something Coronation Street is known for! Tony Warren, the show’s creator, always wanted to showcase older women, and it’s amazing to see that continue. For actors like me, soaps – especially Corrie – offer fantastic roles. We finally have a place where we can really shine and play big, brilliant characters, and that’s incredibly important.

Maggie is a sharp-tongued, funny character who isn’t afraid to deliver a cutting remark – much like classic television characters such as Ena Sharples, Blanche Hunt, and Evelyn Plummer. Actress Sue McLynn hints at a potential scene between Maggie and Evelyn, and she’s recently filmed with Dame Maureen Lipman. McLynn, 63, finds the fast-paced schedule of a long-running drama series more mentally stimulating than even the most challenging puzzles.

Things get hectic and confusing on set, but I’m okay as long as someone is there to guide me – telling me where to be, which part of the scene we’re filming, and what to wear. Learning so many lines is actually really good for my memory – I think it’s made me much more focused.

It’s clear that Coronation Street can help people stay young at heart, as Bill Roache is still playing Ken Barlow at the age of 93. McLynn, a lifelong fan of the show, recalls being amazed by how youthful Roache looked. He was consistently perfect in every scene, which McLynn found incredibly inspiring. Working alongside these television icons is a dream come true.

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2025-10-28 03:34