Thelma Barlow
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:55:10 PM Wikipedia source
Thelma Barlow (née Pigott; born 19 June 1929) is an English television actress and writer, known for her roles as Mavis Wilton in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street and as Dolly Bellfield in the BBC One sitcom dinnerladies. She is the oldest living (and overall longest lived) female Coronation Street cast member.
Infobox
Born
Thelma Pigott (1929-06-19) 19 June 1929 (age 96)Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
Occupation(s)
Actress, writer
Years active
1954–present
Known for
Role of Mavis Wilton in Coronation Street
Television
Coronation Street (1971–1997) Dinnerladies (1998–2000)
Spouse
mw- Graham Barlow (m. 1956; div. 1983)
Children
2
Occupations
Actress, writer
Tables
· Filmography
1958
The Desk Set
Role(s)
Ruthie Saylor
Notes
Television film
1961
Theatre Night
Role(s)
Edna Fuller
Notes
Episode: "Celebration"
1970
A Stranger on the Hills
Role(s)
Mistress Fetterlock
Notes
3 episodes
1971
1971–1997
Role(s)
Coronation Street
Notes
Mavis Wilton / Mavis Riley
1973
1995
Coronation Street: The Feature Length Special
Role(s)
Mavis Wilton
Notes
Video-only release
1998
Creche Landing
Notes
Voice only; television film
1998–2000
Role(s)
Dinnerladies
Notes
Dolly
1999
2000
King's Ransom
Role(s)
Ethel
Notes
Short film
2002
Sweet Charity
Role(s)
Jan
2004
2006
2007
2014
Gail & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street
Role(s)
Narrator
2021
Coronation Street Icons: Norris Cole
Role(s)
Herself
2023
Barbara Knox at 90
Role(s)
Herself
2024
Sleepless In Settle
Role(s)
Barbara
Notes
Short film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | The Desk Set | Ruthie Saylor | Television film |
| 1961 | Theatre Night | Edna Fuller | Episode: "Celebration" |
| 1967 | Vanity Fair | Mrs Briggs | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | A Stranger on the Hills | Mistress Fetterlock | 3 episodes |
| 1971 | The Stalls of Barchester | Letitia Hayes | Television film |
| 1971–1997 | Coronation Street | Mavis Wilton / Mavis Riley | 1,207 episodes |
| 1973 | Love Story | Doreen Truscott | Episode: "Two Tame Oats" |
| Adam Smith | Mrs Patterson | Series 2 episode 27 | |
| 1990 | Cluedo | Series 1 episode 3 | |
| 1995 | Coronation Street: The Feature Length Special | Mavis Wilton | Video-only release |
| 1998 | Creche Landing | Voice only; television film | |
| 1998–2000 | Dinnerladies | Dolly | All 16 episodes |
| 1999 | Murder Most Horrid | Tiffany's mother | Episode: "Dinner at Tiffany's" |
| David Copperfield | Mrs Heep | Episode 2 | |
| 2000 | Fat Friends | Mrs Ashburn | Episode: "Fat Chance" |
| King's Ransom | Ethel | Short film | |
| 2002 | Stig of the Dump | Miss Hardwick | Episode: "Undercover" |
| Sweet Charity | Jan | ||
| Doctors | Jenny Edwards | Episode: "Swing Out Sister" | |
| 2004 | The Royal | Ada | Episode: "Holding on Tight" |
| Where the Heart Is | Helen Ashworth | Episode: "Stormy Weather" | |
| My Dad's the Prime Minister | Old Lady | Episode: "Election" | |
| 2005 | Mrs Henderson Presents | Lady Conway | |
| 2006 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Emily Barton | Episode: "The Moving Finger" |
| Midsomer Murders | Mrs Beverley | Episode: "Last Year's Model" | |
| 2007 | Doctor Who | Lady Thaw | Episode: "The Lazarus Experiment" |
| Doc Martin | Beth | Episode: "Nowt So Queer" | |
| 2008 | Is Anybody There? | Ena | |
| 2014 | Gail & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street | Narrator | |
| 2016 | Florence Foster Jenkins | Mrs Oscar Garmunder | |
| 2021 | Coronation Street Icons: Norris Cole | Herself | |
| 2023 | Barbara Knox at 90 | Herself | |
| 2024 | Sleepless In Settle | Barbara | Short film |
References
- FreeBMDhttp://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=dNrujikgUNdfdbNjSe%2FlNA&scan=1
- For many years her year of birth was thought to be 1937. However, in a 2005 interview with The Times, she admitted to behttps://web.archive.org/web/20110517050254/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article593425.ece
- "Thelma Barlow – Biography"http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/barlow_thelma.html
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJapRddqYZE&index=2&list=PLYKg6fC-_1q_uagzgAQG2Hmw_8NEbBS3w&t=0s
- The Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20110517050254/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article593425.ece
- Manchester Evening Newshttps://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/coronation-street-legend-thelma-barlow-18491732
- "Who played Mavis Wilton in Coronation Street?"https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/coronation-street/who-played-mavis-wilton-thelma-barlow/
- www.liverpoolecho.co.ukhttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/coronation-street-star-thelma-barlow-29452073
- "Thelma Barlow"https://web.archive.org/web/20190424215142/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1217e51
- "People – Thelma Barlow"http://www.bifa.org.uk/person.php?person=375
- "Doctor Who baddie role for Barlow"http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5388130.stm
- ITV Press Centrehttps://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week37/coronation-street-icons-norris-cole
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0055289/ [user-generated source]https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0055289/
- GB Newshttps://www.gbnews.com/celebrity/coronation-street-thelma-barlow-acting-return
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1x6l10qp6o
- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0055289/
- "Thelma Barlow"https://web.archive.org/web/20190424215142/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1217e51
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1x6l10qp6o
- Teesside Universityhttps://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/alumni/hon_grads.cfm
- The Northern Echohttps://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/video/61379/?page=194