Jean Alexander

Jean Alexander (born 24th February, 1926) is a British television actress best known for her portrayal of the nosey but lovaable housewife Hilda Ogden on Coronation Street from May 1964 to December 1987. Hilda was one of the most popular characters in the history of the Street, though Jean herself first appeared on the programme in October 1962, playing Joan Akers' landlady Mrs. Webb.

Prior to her casting as Hilda, Jean appeared in episodes of ITV Television Playhouse and Z Cars, following an earlier career as an actress, wardrobe mistress and stage mistress in repetory theatres in Macclesfield, Oldham, Stockport and York. Her Christmas Day 1987 departure from the Street attracted 26 million viewers, a record for the show that stands to this day.

Post-Corrie, Jean has appeared in Boon, Where The Heart Is and Heartbeat, but her longest-running role after Hilda is junk shop owner Auntie Wainwright in long-running BBC sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine, in which she guested in 1988 and 1989, before being made a permenant cast member in 1991. She still appears on the programme from time to time to this day.

Jean, who never married, was voted by readers of television listings magazine TV Times as the Greatest Soap Opera Star of All Time in 2005.