Eileen Mayers, known for her role as Sheila Birtles in Coronation Street, has died at the age of 94. The actress appeared in the ITV soap during its early years, from 1961 to 1963, and again in the early 1970s.
An announcement confirmed the soap star had taken her final curtain call after a career that began at age 15 at the Oldham Repertory Theatre. The tribute read: "Sheila Birtles in Coronation Street between 1960-63, she is now 'resting' for ever. God bless."
Controversial Storyline Pulled from Broadcast
Mayers made her debut as factory worker Sheila in the eighth-ever episode of Coronation Street. She remained with the programme until 1963, when producers decided her character would take her own life. However, the storyline leaked before it could be broadcast, and the backlash was so severe that the already-filmed scenes never aired.
Instead, Sheila, who had been depressed following a failed love affair, was rescued by neighbour Len Fairclough and sent to live with her parents. She returned sporadically until 1974.
Career and Final Screen Appearance
Born in Oldham, Mayers began her career in theatre as a teenager. Outside Coronation Street, she appeared in episodes of Keep It In The Family and I'm Not Bothered. In a second dry run of the soap, she played Linda Cheveski before the part of Elsie Tanner's daughter went to Anne Cunningham.
In 2011, Mayers made one of her final screen appearances in the documentary The Corrie Years, where the cut scenes were aired for the first time. She addressed the controversy, saying: "I came out of Granada having finished and was greeted with a wall of journalists and I couldn't believe it." Then-producer Margaret Morris ordered a story rewrite amid the furore.
Mayers added: "It is disappointing when you think 'Oh that's it, that's good,' and then it doesn't get shown but that's the way it is. I had an actress friend who used to say 'Well dear, you've been front page news!' and I'd rather not have been, and that they had shown the episode."
