Lynne Verrall obit

Coronation Street actress Lynne Verrall dies after long illness as tributes pour in

Lynne Verrall played the role of Geraldine Spellman on the famous Coronation Street cobbles as well as many other theatre and TV roles throughout her successful career

 She was not on the list.

Coronation Street actress Lynne Verrall has sadly passed away at the age of 76, her agent confirmed. The talented performer, who portrayed Geraldine Spellman on the cobbles in 2017, had a rich career spanning theatre and television.

She passed away in Paris on 8 November. Her agent Samantha Boyd shared with The Stage: "Lynne was always ready to try any role, to grow and learn and develop. She embraced life to the full.

"She embraced life to the full," she reiterated to The Stage. Sue was diagnosed with motor neurone disease shortly after filming her 2023 comedy-drama Greek Salad.

Sue Dunderdale, a close friend of Lynne's, said: "She faced it with incredible courage. She was extraordinary.

"She remained in Paris because she'd been happy there. She created this wonderful persona of an eccentric, charming Englishwoman. She was a fantastic actor but never got the recognition she deserved.", reports OK!.

On Coronation Street, Lynne played the homophobic mother of Drew Spellman (Tom Godwin), featuring in several episodes during her year-long stint. She also made appearances in Doctors, Father Brown and ITV drama Innocent.

Beyond television, Lynne toured with the New Shakespeare Company as an understudy for the role of Celia in As You Like It, among other theatre roles. She joined Sue Dunderdale's touring company Pentabus in 1974 and went onto perform in three tours across the UK.

After starring in Carrie Cracknell's revival of A Doll's House at London's Young Vic in 2012, Lynne relocated to Paris and featured in several short films.

Her television debut was in Bill Brand in 1976, followed by appearances in General Hospital, Inspector Morse, Casualty, Peak Practice, The Bill and Holby City. More recently, Lynne graced the screens in Vera, EastEnders and the film After Louise.

Her final role was in Prime Video's French comedy-drama Greek Salad, a story about two siblings who move to Athens after inheriting a flat from their grandfather.

Actress

Dimitris Kitsos in Greek Salad (2023)

Greek Salad

7.3

TV Series

Margaret

2023

2 episodes

 

Michel Elias, Lynne Verrall, and Lisa Ray-Jacobs in Just Jewish (2022)

Just Jewish

Short

Mrs. Field

2022

 

Confession (2021)

Confession

9.6

Short

Sibyl

2021

 

Strayed (2020)

Strayed

7.3

Short

2020

 

After Louise (2019)

After Louise

5.9

Elizabeth

2019

 

Joan Collins in Gerry (2018)

Gerry

7.6

Short

Gerry

2018

 

Peter Adamson, Jean Alexander, Johnny Briggs, Margot Bryant, and Doris Speed in Coronation Street (1960)

Coronation Street

5.6

TV Series

Geraldine Spellman

2017–2018

13 episodes

 

Lee Ingleby and Katherine Kelly in Innocent (2018)

Innocent

7.4

TV Series

Meg

2018

2 episodes

 

About Time (2017)

About Time

Short

2017

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.8

TV Series

SueJudge Rosemary Pickering

1992–2016

6 episodes

 

Vera (2011)

Vera

8.2

TV Series

Charlotte Warrick

2015

1 episode

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.6

TV Series

Kay AndersonJoan CritchlawLily Tanner ...

2000–2015

6 episodes

 

The Divorce (2014)

The Divorce

Short

Mrs. Levy

2014

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honorable Woman (2014)

The Honorable Woman

7.9

TV Mini Series

Lady Margaret Andrews

2014

1 episode

 

Sorcha Cusack and Mark Williams in Father Brown (2013)

Father Brown

7.8

TV Series

Hilda Magnus

2014

1 episode

 

WPC 56 (2013)

WPC 56

7.3

TV Series

Valerie Parker

2013

2 episodes

 

A Doll's House (2012)

A Doll's House

7.6

Anna

2012

 

Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Aislinn MarshAnne Wallace

2004–2011

2 episodes

 

Luke Goss, Andrew Pleavin, MyAnna Buring, and Ed Speleers in Witchville (2010)

Witchville

3.8

TV Movie

Baba

2010

 

Anna Wing in Numbers Up (2009)

Numbers Up

Short

Val Stanley

2009

 

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, and Mark Wingett in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Beverley WintersSchool SecretarySue Hopkins ...

1988–2007

4 episodes

 

Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud (2007)

Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud

4.4

TV Movie

Haggis

2007

 

Peter Capaldi and Ray Quinn in The Afternoon Play (2003)

The Afternoon Play

7.4

TV Series

Moira

2007

1 episode

 

Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006)

Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes

4.3

TV Movie

Haggis

2006

 

The Man Who Broke Britain

7.2

TV Movie

Mary Dunbar

2004

 

Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001)

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

7.4

TV Series

Pathologist

2003

1 episode

 

Timothy Spall, Christopher Fairbank, Tim Healy, Gary Holton, Jimmy Nail, Pat Roach, and Kevin Whately in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983)

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

8.6

TV Series

VAT Lady

2002

1 episode

 

Peak Practice (1993)

Peak Practice

6.5

TV Series

Barbara Stone

2000

1 episode

 

The Secret World of Michael Fry (2000)

The Secret World of Michael Fry

8.1

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Wentworth-Davies

2000

1 episode

 

A Kind of Hush (1999)

A Kind of Hush

4.5

Babs

1999

 

Dominic Monaghan and Patricia Routledge in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1995)

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

7.6

TV Series

Miss Tweed

1998

1 episode

 

Staying Alive

8.8

TV Series

Sister Felicity O'Keefe

1996–1997

11 episodes

 

Have Your Cake and Eat It (1997)

Have Your Cake and Eat It

7.5

TV Mini Series

Senior midwife

1997

2 episodes

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.2

TV Series

Rose TremaineGloria JensonChristine

1989–1996

3 episodes

 

Peter Howitt and Kevin McNally in Frontiers (1996)

Frontiers

7.4

TV Series

1996

1 episode

 

Into the Fire (1996)

Into the Fire

7.5

TV Mini Series

Louise

1996

3 episodes

 

Ian Richardson and Isla Blair in The Final Cut (1995)

The Final Cut

8.0

TV Mini Series

Nurse

1995

1 episode

 

Warren Clarke, Jojo, Zizi, Zak, Tricky Nicky, Leo Piper, and Spangles in Moving Story (1994)

Moving Story

7.8

TV Series

Housewife

1994

1 episode

 

Stella Gonet and Louise Lombard in The House of Eliott (1991)

The House of Eliott

8.1

TV Series

Dora Quance

1994

1 episode

 

John Thaw and Kevin Whately in Inspector Morse (1987)

Inspector Morse

8.2

TV Series

Librarian

1993

1 episode

 

Leigh Lawson in Kinsey (1991)

Kinsey

7.4

TV Series

Kath Morris

1992

1 episode

 

Civvies (1992)

Civvies

8.1

TV Series

Woman Neighbour

1992

1 episode

 

Precious Bane (1989)

Precious Bane

8.3

TV Movie

Mrs. Beguildy

1989

 

The Bretts (1987)

The Bretts

8.2

TV Series

Mrs. Jones

1988

1 episode

 

Hard Cases (1988)

Hard Cases

6.0

TV Series

Mrs. Collinson

1988

3 episodes

 

Elphida

TV Movie

BOAC stewardess

1987

 

Screenplay (1986)

Screenplay

6.5

TV Series

Shoplady

1987

1 episode

 

Y.E.S.

TV Series

Mrs. Gunthorpe

1987

1 episode

 

Them and Us

TV Series

Mrs. Bilton

1985

1 episode

 

Richard Beckinsale, Freddie Fletcher, Bernard Hepton, Arthur Lowe, Jack Rosenthal, and Paula Wilcox in ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.1

TV Series

Lois

1981

1 episode

 

Megs Jenkins and John Mills in Young at Heart (1977)

Young at Heart

6.3

TV Series

Sheila

1980

1 episode

 

Alfred Burke, Simon Cadell, Adolf Hitler, Bernard Horsfall, and Martin Jarvis in Enemy at the Door (1978)

Enemy at the Door

7.9

TV Series

Marie

1978

1 episode

 

General Hospital (1972)

General Hospital

7.5

TV Series

Dialysis Sister

1977

1 episode

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.5

TV Series

WPC McKail

1977

1 episode

 

Starting Out (1973)

Starting Out

TV Series

Maggie

1976

1 episode

 

Jack Shepherd in Bill Brand (1976)

Bill Brand

7.7

TV Mini Series

Secretary

1976

1 episode