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| Street actress Jones dies aged 75 | Street actress Jones dies aged 75 |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Coronation Street actress Maggie Jones, who played Blanche Hunt in the soap, has died in hospital at the age of 75. | Coronation Street actress Maggie Jones, who played Blanche Hunt in the soap, has died in hospital at the age of 75. |
| A spokeswoman for the ITV show said the star, who had been recovering from an operation in October, had "passed away peacefully" on Wednesday morning. | A spokeswoman for the ITV show said the star, who had been recovering from an operation in October, had "passed away peacefully" on Wednesday morning. |
| William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, said she was a "brilliant actress" who had an "amazing dry wit". | William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, said she was a "brilliant actress" who had an "amazing dry wit". |
| She first appeared as Blanche, who is best known for her harsh put-downs and sharp tongue, 35 years ago. | She first appeared as Blanche, who is best known for her harsh put-downs and sharp tongue, 35 years ago. |
| 'Dry wit' | 'Dry wit' |
| Jones was admitted to hospital for major surgery in October. It is not clear what she was being treated for. | Jones was admitted to hospital for major surgery in October. It is not clear what she was being treated for. |
| Maggie Jones as Blanche Hunt in a clip from ITV's Coronation Street | |
| "Maggie had been making a slow recovery but her condition deteriorated early Wednesday morning and she passed away peacefully in her sleep," the spokeswoman said. | "Maggie had been making a slow recovery but her condition deteriorated early Wednesday morning and she passed away peacefully in her sleep," the spokeswoman said. |
| Roache, who played Blanche's son-in-law, said: "Maggie was a big part of the Barlow family and a brilliant actress. | Roache, who played Blanche's son-in-law, said: "Maggie was a big part of the Barlow family and a brilliant actress. |
| "She was a tower of strength, physically frail but mentally strong as an ox and sharp as someone half her age. | "She was a tower of strength, physically frail but mentally strong as an ox and sharp as someone half her age. |
| "She had an amazing dry wit and was as funny, if not funnier, than Blanche. We were great crossword partners - we sat through Tracy's trial scenes doing the crossword together." | "She had an amazing dry wit and was as funny, if not funnier, than Blanche. We were great crossword partners - we sat through Tracy's trial scenes doing the crossword together." |
| He added: "I don't think Maggie ever realised how much she was loved - not only by everyone on the show but by the millions of Blanche fans out there. She will be greatly missed." | He added: "I don't think Maggie ever realised how much she was loved - not only by everyone on the show but by the millions of Blanche fans out there. She will be greatly missed." |
| Jones, who won several soap awards, only became a regular cast member in 1999 after numerous occasional appearances as Blanche. | Jones, who won several soap awards, only became a regular cast member in 1999 after numerous occasional appearances as Blanche. |
| She also played different characters in the soap on two separate occasions. Her first appearance on the show was as a policewoman in 1961. | She also played different characters in the soap on two separate occasions. Her first appearance on the show was as a policewoman in 1961. |
| The soap's executive producer, Kieran Roberts, called Jones a "much-loved colleague and a wonderful actress who turned Blanche into a true Coronation Street icon". | The soap's executive producer, Kieran Roberts, called Jones a "much-loved colleague and a wonderful actress who turned Blanche into a true Coronation Street icon". |
| Blanche became a regular in the show in 1999 | |
| He added: "She will be hugely missed by Coronation Street's many millions of viewers and by everyone who works on Coronation Street. | He added: "She will be hugely missed by Coronation Street's many millions of viewers and by everyone who works on Coronation Street. |
| "Our thoughts and prayers go to Maggie's sister, Joan, at this very sad time." | "Our thoughts and prayers go to Maggie's sister, Joan, at this very sad time." |
| Jones's agent, Katie Threlfall, said: "Maggie was a rare treasure - incredibly kind, honest and loved by so many. It has been such a privilege to work with her, and we will miss her dearly." | Jones's agent, Katie Threlfall, said: "Maggie was a rare treasure - incredibly kind, honest and loved by so many. It has been such a privilege to work with her, and we will miss her dearly." |
| Scriptwriters had written her out of the show while she recovered from her operation. | Scriptwriters had written her out of the show while she recovered from her operation. |
| But, because the show is filmed six weeks in advance, Jones was still seen on screen until recently. | But, because the show is filmed six weeks in advance, Jones was still seen on screen until recently. |
| In her last ever scene, which was broadcast on 20 November, Blanche got drunk and revealed some home truths at a family gathering. | In her last ever scene, which was broadcast on 20 November, Blanche got drunk and revealed some home truths at a family gathering. |
| Jones, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada), began her career on stage, and had a number of different theatre roles before moving in to television. | Jones, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada), began her career on stage, and had a number of different theatre roles before moving in to television. |
| She was widowed in 1999 after 28 years of marriage, when her husband, John Oliver Stansfield, died aged 72. | She was widowed in 1999 after 28 years of marriage, when her husband, John Oliver Stansfield, died aged 72. |