Phyllis Pearce: Difference between revisions
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==References== |
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* {{cite book|last=Nown|first=Graham|title=Coronation Street, 1960-1985 : 25 Years|year=1985|publisher=[[Ward Lock & Co]]|isbn=0-7063-6405-8|ref=refnown}} |
* {{cite book|last=Nown|first=Graham|title=Coronation Street, 1960-1985 : 25 Years|year=1985|publisher=[[Ward Lock & Co]]|isbn=0-7063-6405-8|ref=refnown}} |
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* {{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Soap Operas|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony Hayward|year=1991|publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-85112-966-2|ref=refhayward}} |
* {{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Soap Operas|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony Hayward|year=1991|publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-85112-966-2|ref=refhayward}} |
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*{{cite book|title=50 Years of Coronation Street|last=Randall|first=Tim|year=2010|publisher=[[Headline Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-0-7553-1846-9|ref=refrandall1}} |
*{{cite book|title=50 Years of Coronation Street|last=Randall|first=Tim|year=2010|publisher=[[Headline Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-0-7553-1846-9|ref=refrandall1}} |
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*{{cite book|title=60 Years of Coronation Street|last=Kemp|first=Abigail|year=2020|publisher=[[Hamlyn (publisher)|Hamlyn]]|isbn=978-0-600-63593-2|ref=refkemp}} |
*{{cite book|title=60 Years of Coronation Street|last=Kemp|first=Abigail|year=2020|publisher=[[Hamlyn (publisher)|Hamlyn]]|isbn=978-0-600-63593-2|ref=refkemp}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 18:45, 14 July 2024
| Phyllis Pearce | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Jill Summers | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1982–1996 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 20 September 1982 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 1 May 1996 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Bill Podmore (1982) Mervyn Watson (1984) | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Phyllis Pearce is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jill Summers.
Casting
Summers had previously played the role of Bessie Proctor in 1972, a cleaner who worked with Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) at the Capricorn Club venue.[1][2] When Summers took on the role of Phyllis, she expected it only to last a couple of weeks. However the role was expanded and Summers was kept on to build the character further.[3]
Development
Characterisation and introduction
Phyllis is introduced into the series as the grandmother of Craig Whitely (Mark Price). She tracks Craig down to Number 9 Coronation Street, where he is living with his paternal grandfather Chalkie Whitely (Teddy Turner).[4] Phyllis' daughter Margaret had previously died of cancer and Craig moved in with Chalkie following her death. Phyllis is also widowed when she debuts and she decides to reconnect with Craig because he is her only remaining living family.[4][5] When Chalkie moved to Coronation Street, he decided not to tell Phyllis his new address because he wanted to exclude her from their life, due to her interfering ways.[6] Craig's father, Bob Whitely (Freddie Fletcher) goes to work on an oil rig and leaves Craig in Chalkie's care.[7]
In the book, Around the Coronation Street Houses, author Daran Little revealed that Phyllis and Chalkie had previously lived on Cromwell Street together and the pair did not get along.[8] Chalkie was upset when his son, Bob married into the Pearce family via his wedding to Margaret. Phyllis believed that Chalkie was a chauvinist and he viewed her as cantankerous.[8] When Phyllis reconnects with Craig, she urges him to move into her home instead but he tells Phyllis he prefers living with his grandfather.[7] Chalkie allows Phyllis to remain in contact with Craig.[7] She continues to appear in numerous episodes visiting Craig and taking every opportunity to criticise Chalkie's suitability as a parental guardian.[9] Producers introduced Bob into the series later that year and he announces that he is moving to Australia and taking Craig with him.[7] Writers portrayed Phyllis as pleading with Bob to reconsider, fearing she will never see her grandson again. Bob also orders Chalkie to sell the house and Phyllis tries to get him to move in with her. He refuses but then wins money on a horse racing bet.[7] He decides to use the money to purchase a plane ticket to Australia. Phyllis was distraught over Chalkie's departure because he was her last link to her family.[10] Phyllis loses her home in nearby Omdurman Street and moves into a bungalow in Gorton Close.[11]
Phyllis is a widow and in her back story, she was married to Harold Pearce.[7] Phyllis later gains employment at Jim's Café.[2] Phyllis is characterised by her interfering ways and her trademark blue-rinse hair style.[6][2] She is also "man-mad", often portrayed trying to find a new partner.[2] Another memorable characteristic of Phyllis is her husky voice.[12] Summers was given the opportunity to develop Phyllis' character and she used her vast showbusiness knowledge to build the character.[3] She told Little in his book, The Coronation Street Story that "I loved it and then Phyllis grew on me and grew up as a character." Summers added that Phyllis is a "lonely lady" who just wanted some company.[3] In the book Coronation Street, 1960-1985 : 25 Years, Graham Nown profiled her as "bossy, blue-rinsed" Phyllis who "likes a man who gets things done."[9] He added that she is portrayed as making Chalkie's "life a misery" via her "constant carping".[9]
Percy Sugden
Writers created a partnership between Phyllis and Percy Sugden (Bill Waddington), which nearly lasted through out most of her duration.[2] Phyllis is portrayed as having unrequited love for Percy, who makes his feelings known. Despite this, Phyllis never gives up the pursuit of romance with Percy.[2] Nown assessed that Phyllis "visibly melts in his presence" but he always refuses to succumb to her advances.[9] Summers believed that Phyllis is a lonely woman who latches onto Percy for comfort. She told Graeme Kay, author of Life in the Street that "Percy can't stand Phyllis but he does use her. Wherever he goes, she chases him." Summers opined that some women think "boring men" such as Percy are "marvellous" and Phyllis certainly does.[2] She added that Percy "can do no wrong for Phyllis, talking about Burma and the war. She's very lonely, really, and all she can think of is Percy, even though she knows he doesn't want her, but he's her life."[2]
In a 1987 storyline, writers featured Phyllis turning her romantic attentions to Sam Tindall (Tom Mennard). He is a friend of Percy's at the local bowls club.[13] Phyllis realises he is wealthy from a prize gained winning a pool competition and pursues him. She uses Percy to make Sam jealous, but her plan fails when Sam thinks she has loose morals. Phyllis blames Percy for Sam's decision, leaving him "outraged" by her accusations.[13] In 1993, Phyllis wins a poetry competition via a poem she writes about her love for Percy.[5] The two characters later move into the same retirement complex at Mayfield Court.[12]
Reception
Summers regularly received fan mail from young viewers who told her that Phyllis is "funny" and how they wished Phyllis was their own grandmother.[2] Attitude placed Phyllis eighth in their "top ten women of Coronation Street" feature. A critic branded her a "forgotten gem" of the show and described her as "the old lady with a purple rinse and a voice that sounded a little like a didgeridoo."[14] They added that despite Phyllis being an "old lady" she was never portrayed as a "Emily Bishop-style sherry-sipper" because she drank Guinness and "her filthy Guinness breath was probably the main reason her love for Percy Sugden went unrequited for so many years."[14] Television writer Daran Little has described her as an "interfering battleaxe" type of character.[6]
Anthony Hayward, author of The Who's Who of Soap Operas described Phyllis as "of the blue-rinse hair do" and that "chasing fellow-pensioner Percy Sugden has become a full-time occupation" for her.[15] Hayward added that Phyllis is "infatuated" with Percy and "wherever Percy goes, she is not likely to be far away."[16] In her book, 60 Years of Coronation Street, Abigail Kemp opined "with her purple rinse and husky voice, pensioner Phyllis Pearce made a lasting impression on Coronation Street thanks to her amusing infatuation with pompous Percy."[12] Kemp added that Phyllis is an "amorous lilac-haired" and a "poor old lovestruck" woman who Percy is "downright rude" to.[17][12] Author Tim Randall branded Phyllis a "randy pensioner".[13]
References
- ^ Randall 2010, p.147.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kay 1991, p.55.
- ^ a b c Little 1995, p.164.
- ^ a b "Phyllis Pearce". CoronationStreet.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 1999. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ a b Little 1995, p.257.
- ^ a b c Little 1995, p.163.
- ^ a b c d e f Little 1997, p.114.
- ^ a b Little 1997, p.113.
- ^ a b c d Nown 1985, p.52.
- ^ Little 1997, p.115.
- ^ Little & Hill 1992, p.159.
- ^ a b c d Kemp 2020, p.108.
- ^ a b c Randall 2010, p.145.
- ^ a b "The Top Ten Women of Coronation Street". Attitude. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Hayward 1991, p.55.
- ^ Hayward 1991, p.56.
- ^ Kemp 2020, p.86.
- Bibliography
- Nown, Graham (1985). Coronation Street, 1960-1985 : 25 Years. Ward Lock & Co. ISBN 0-7063-6405-8.
- Hayward, Anthony (1991). The Who's Who of Soap Operas. Guinness Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85112-966-2.
- Kay, Graeme (1991). Life in the Street. Boxtree. ISBN 1-85283-161-8.
- Little, Daran; Hill, Bill (1992). Weatherfield Life. Boxtree. ISBN 1-85283-186-3.
- Little, Daran (1995). The Coronation Street Story: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years of the Street. Boxtree. ISBN 0-7522-1019-X.
- Little, Daran (1997). Around the Coronation Street Houses. Boxtree. ISBN 0-7522-1049-1.
- Randall, Tim (2010). 50 Years of Coronation Street. Headline Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7553-1846-9.
- Kemp, Abigail (2020). 60 Years of Coronation Street. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-63593-2.
External links
- Phyllis Pearce at the Official Coronation Street website