Margi Clarke, best known for her role as Jackie Dobbs on Coronation Street, has led a varied life since leaving the ITV soap in 2010. The actress, now 71, has faced health struggles, including a painful yeast infection linked to alcohol dependency, and has taken on work as a barmaid in Liverpool.
Jackie Dobbs' Storyline on Coronation Street
Jackie Dobbs first appeared on Coronation Street in 1998 after meeting Deidre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) in prison. She settled on the cobbles with her teenage son Tyrone (Alan Halsall), but returned to Liverpool in 1999, leaving Tyrone in the care of Jack and Vera Duckworth. Jackie made a brief return in 2008 with bright pink hair, causing chaos for Tyrone and Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) before departing for good in 2010. In 2018, it was revealed that Jackie had died and was not Tyrone's biological mother—that role belonged to Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney). This week, Tyrone's biological father Ross Wilkes (Ian Burfield) arrives on the scene.
Margi Clarke's Acting Career
Before Coronation Street, Margi was known for her work on Channel 4's Brookside and the 1985 film Letter to Brezhnev. Her other credits include Casualty, BBC's Making Out, and a cameo in the Pet Shop Boys' video for "Rent." She also hosted her own daytime show, Swank, in the 1990s and performed her show 21st Century Scutt at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994. After leaving Corrie in 1999, she joined Five's Family Affairs for nearly a year. Her film roles include Revengers Tragedy and 24 Hour Party People (both 2002). In 2008, she appeared in the second series of ITV's Benidorm as Dorothy.
Health Struggles and Personal Loss
In 1995, Margi's mother Frances died of lung cancer, which triggered a period of alcohol dependency. She told The Northern Echo in 2010: "My drinking began in 1996 and was triggered by my mother's death from lung cancer, which left me devastated." The drinking led to a severe yeast infection that caused IBS, blisters on her skin and mouth, and painful athlete's foot. She also admitted to the Liverpool Echo that she was still grieving when she played Jackie in 1998 and did not perform to her best ability.
Life After Acting
Margi's last television role was in 2014, playing Heaven Jones in the BBC comedy Puppy Love. In 2012, she revealed she was working as a barmaid at Ma Egerton's pub in Liverpool. She told Liverpool Confidential: "Every actor takes on other work when they are waiting for the next big job." She also told the Mirror: "With my strong accent getting roles in straight theatre has always been a bit difficult. But it's become a whole lot harder now because the drama schools are packed full of so many talented kids. Everybody wants to be famous these days but there aren't many roles for older Scouse women."
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
