Coronation Street - Hilda breaks down 1984

[FatknackerMacca]

Do you think Hilda will be back for Betty's funeral, even if it's only a one off episode? She'd be expected to attend, wouldn't she, ditto Bet. Be nice to see some of the old faces. Mavis too, perhaps.

[ohwell94]

@FatknackerMacca that would be something wouldn't it? to see all those Betty worked with was friends with and would be very moving to see! Hilda,Bet, all those ppl who were there from the start with her up to and now cause she was a force of that show really an era gone and it would be a nice touch to see some old faces come back to reminise about the old characters that are gone too

[Squab1972]

A moving scene but beautifully acted by Jean Alexander

[Kaynas1988]

I remember watching this on the Coronation Street 50 years 50 moments and I crying my eyes out

[jiggarypokery]

My god, that poor woman Hilda. Coronation street has changed so much now, and I dont mean 'life'  (as it claims to portray) i mean 'soaps' Ordinary women losing loved ones in every day life, is what people can relate too. Now they have to be blown up or murdered and a big deal drama has to surrond their death for week and weeks in the present day Coronation Strreet. Its all about sensationalism now, not realism.

[FatknackerMacca]

Wikipedia says the Granada stills photographer needed to take a picture, and everyone on the studio floor was in floods of tears. Jean looked up and said what shot do you want, I'm only acting. There was a similar scene when Derek died in '97, it was Mavis's birthday and alone in the house, she opened his present, an engraved locket with a picture of them inside, and wept.

[TroughtonLover94]

this is one of those times in corrie where no ending theme would've worked perfectly but alas no. they always put them in at the wrong moments =[

[flaxonx3]

Bernard Youens (Stan) had recently died in 1984 so you can imagine she simply wasn't just acting having spent 20 years as his screen wife.

[bennyman1982]

After years of swigging beer and munching bacon sarnies our loveable Stan Ogden died. A true soap legend. One of my fave old characters of Corrie if not the fave.

[shaggybristol]

.... I think I was so moved I was typing gibberish just now ..... that should have read THE greatest soap COUPLE ever .......

[shaggybristol]

Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander were possibly THE greatest soap couples ever - and anyone who doesn't shed a tear after watching this incredibly moving little scene has missed out on what the true golden era of Coronation Street was all about. Marvellous television.

[MeBenHalpin]

@shaggybristol That was so well put my friend and yes it was one of the most moving pieces of drama in television history, Stan's death was real end of golden era of Coronation Street in which 20 years of so many highs and lows, truly great partnership, came to very sad ending.

[MsFanmail]

bring back hilda odgen to coronation st she was g8

[MrRadiofan12]

this was the most moveing thing ive ever seen in my life jean alexander and the man that played stan were my favourite 2 in the street this was so sad this episode poor hilda

[wataf211110]

I think Jean Alexander was the best actress Corry ever had whoever found her in 1964 needs a medal cause she was a genius and still is !!!!

[MeBenHalpin]

@wataf211110 I agree Hilda Ogden was and still is my mum's all time favourite Street character, she just captured the hearts of millions and millions of viewers in her 23 years on the show.

[womblediehard]

This is the most moving scene in soap history, this is what it is like when you lose someone you love and that scene reminds me of when i held my mums glasses after she died and i knew she wasn't coming back,

[jiggarypokery]

@womblediehard Couldnt agree with you more. These sort of scenes touch our emotions because we have all gone through this sort of thing and can relate to it, Coronation Street has lost the plot now. If the producers think what they are producing now is realism, they are having themselves on. I wont watch Coronation street now. It bores me.

[gf1001]

One of the most moving performences ever Corrie is rubbish now .Jean a LEGEND thanks for posting.

[lyndabynda]

@gf1001 ah it still has its moments

[MeBenHalpin]

@gf1001 I agree, 26 years on and Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden) is still very much Street legend, who will never be forgotten, how many of the modern day characters, will gain that sort of status in years to come, i ask.

[pimmagrimm]

Which characters live in the ogden house now?

[megtheowl]

@pimmagrimm Their house was the one right next to Dev's shop. Current tenants are Ashley & Claire after they swapped with the Websters.

[bennyman1982]

A very moving scene. We saw a much more emotional side to Hilda rather than her usual scatty and nutty in a nice way self.

[MeBenHalpin]

@bennyman1982 We did, think nation cried with her that day, one of soaps saddest moments.

[MrRadiofan12]

this has got to be the most saddest moment ever in soap history ive nothing but praise for a very fine actress jean alexander i allways wanted to meet her in real life i love corree street but even more so when jean was in it those were the true coree days that i remember she was a legend. and wen ever i see this clip i break down as well its just so sad.

[MeBenHalpin]

@MrRadiofan12 I agree, think nation cried with Hilda that day, there was real emotion in those final scenes and wonderfully acted by Jean Alexander, she was and still is my mum's all time favourite Street character, don't make them like her anymore.

[FatknackerMacca]

The whole funeral episode was so beautifully written and acted. Hilda calling into the corner shop to ask Alf to put a jar of mustard in with her order, until Billy stepped in and said he'd get the girls to lay sandwiches on at the Rovers. Reciting the remainder of the Lord's Prayer alone at Stan's graveside. Vera mouthing off that Hilda hadn't shed a tear all day, dismissing her as being a bit simple, then this final poignant scene. The credits should have rolled without the theme tune.

[MeBenHalpin]

@FatknackerMacca Yeah it was beautifully written, i have this episode on dvd Corrie the 80's boxset at home and everytime watch it, especially that last scene feel so sad for Hilda, when she has Stans glasses in her hand and just slowly breaks down quietly, it must be the most horrible feeling for anyone in that situation, losing someone so dear and close.

[nuuuurrr]

saddest scene in soap history.

[ravrik]

I wrote Jean Alexander a letter when she left the show to thank her for all her years entertaining the public. I got a signed photo back with a lovely message. Isn't that nice?

[MeBenHalpin]

@ravrik Oh that was nice, i heard whisper somewhere that they're trying to bring the character back for one off appearance as part of the show's 50th birthday celebrations, later this year, wouldn't that be great, after all these years.

[ravrik]

@MeBenHalpin She certainly was a legend - Jean Alexander is very classy in real life yet we all believed Hilda Ogden was an awful common woman - she certainly took the part well. Yes it would be amazing for Hilda to come back for a one-off appearance, I bet they would get massive audiences for that. I stopped watching "Coro" but I would certainly tune in to see Hilda after all these years!

[MeBenHalpin]

@ravrik Your right, think they would pull in lot of viewers, just don't make characters like her anymore and some of the acting and storylines today are just diabollockal, no wonder you've stopped watching it.

[ravrik]

@MeBenHalpin Hello again! You seem like you are a fan of the Street. I am a 45 year old man and I remeber wtaching "Te Street" while I was in university at Sheffield 1982 - 1985 and it was indeed a great programme, pulling in millions of viewers. I remeber when Dierdre and Mike had the affair and then Ken found out all the TV rooms at out Halls of Residence were full with students watching! Nowadays they are just going over and over the sme things and it loses credulity after a while.

[MeBenHalpin]

@ravrik I can't remember that far back, cos im only 25, but my Mum is an avid Street fan and she's breathed it into me and watching alot of the re-run's on Granada Plus with her, kind of introduced me to these old characters like Hilda Ogden and all the other household names.

[unclemort1960]

@MeBenHalpin i read she has refused to appear because thinks the show is rubbish now

[MeBenHalpin]

@unclemort1960 Just don't know how the character of Hilda Ogden would function on the show in 2010, cos Corrie as show has always tried to keep ahead with the times.

[FatknackerMacca]

@ravrik Aww, that's lovely. How nice. Think it was one of the tv critics who once wrote that Jean/Hilda can convey more with a little sigh than many of her fellow Street colleagues can with a whole scene full of dialogue. Loved her farewell episode as well, one last bit of stirring when Alec claimed Mike and Bet weren't exactly bosom buddies, having organised the party, and she explained they lived together at no 3 for quite some time lol!

[MeBenHalpin]

This aired on 28th November 1984, the day before i was born, Hilda Ogden was and will always be Street Legend.

[artdex]

so wonderfully acted by Jean Alexander can remember crying buckets when it was shown

[haynet1962]

Brilliantly acted by Jean Alexander. Just wonderful. I remember watching it live at the time, and finding it impossible to fight back the tears myself. Thanks so much for posting.

[fartman11]

yes very heartbreaken to see jean alexander crying there she is such a great actress and stand and hilda were without a doubt my favourites in the street i was even in teers watching that. i think if im not mistaken she is now in last of the summer wine. stan and hilda were legends.

[dogbaby1]

This is beautifully done. No overwrought melodrama. Just a little scene, perfectly underplayed, and utterly heartbreaking.

[billabongodrum]

if there is a peak of all the quality produced on coronation street this scene is it, coronation street is shite now

[bennyman1982]

Stan Ogden was a legend. This is a really moving scene. I think his last appearance in the show was March 1984 and the character was unseen until his death as he was bedridden.

[WorldNews92]

This aired in November 1984, and Bernard Youens (the actor who played Stanley Ogden) died in August 1984, but there was something like an eight-month gap between Stan's last appearance and his death. What is really sad is that he and Hilda were such great characters in Coronation Street, but Stan's last scene involved him lying to Hilda about wining money on gambling.

[joninwakey]

That's the problem when you get real life illnesses to the actors. There is not time to change the script especially as in Bernard's case where he was too ill to do another shoot. These days they would put a look alike in.

[gdtlr]

What a moving scene! That's exactly what my Nan did when my Grandad died. A gut - wrenching but iconic Corrie scene.

[gdtlr]

Terribly moving.