Coronation Street unsung heroine (and randy granny!) - Phyllis Pearce

This is Jill Summers and she played one of my favourite characters on Coronation Street back in the 1980s and 1990s, Phyllis Pearce.

She was an unapologetic flirt, she was kind and hard working. She helped out in the cafe alongside Gail for quite a few years and later on cleaned house for Des Barnes, whom she grew to love like a son.

Click through for more info on Phyllis, a cracking old photo and more information about the lovely Jill Summers

Phyllis arrived in Coronation Street to see her grandson, Craig, the son of her late daughter who was living with his paternal grandfather, Chalkie Whitely. She set her cap for Chalkie and later on, more famously, she tried for years to get Percy Sugden to notice her.  Phyllis eventually moved into Mayfield  Court, a retirement home. Oddly enough, Percy Sugden moved there too, a year or so later as did Maud Grimes. I expect Phyllis ended her days still on the pull!

Jill Summers' real first name was Honor and chose her stage name by her favourite season (summer) and her favourite measure of gin (a gill). She spent many years on the stage in comedic roles and variety shows and later had her own tv show. She was also known for rather blue humour on the club circuit. Between stage and television, she worked steadily most of her life but most people now remember her for her role as Phyllis Pearce on Coronation Street in the 80s and early 90s though she did play another character earlier, a cleaner, Bessie Proctor, who worked with Hilda Ogden.

These photos were taken from the now-defunct On The Air Magazine which featured an article all about this fabulous woman in the June/July 2005 issue, if you ever find any back issues.

Check out all our unsung heroes and heroines here.