Eileen Mayers, an early Coronation Street actress, has died at the age of 94. Mayers played Sheila Birtles in the ITV soap from 1961 until 1963, and again in the early 1970s. Her final scenes, filmed in 1963, were never broadcast after a public backlash over a planned suicide storyline.
Career and Early Role
Mayers began her acting career at age 15 at the Oldham Repertory Theatre. She made her debut as factory worker Sheila Birtles in the eighth-ever episode of Coronation Street. A tribute announced that the actress had taken her final curtain call, saying: "Sheila Birtles in Coronation Street between 1960-63, she is now 'resting' for ever. God bless."
Before landing the role of Sheila, Mayers played Linda Cheveski in the second dry run of Coronation Street, before the part of Elsie Tanner's daughter eventually went to Anne Cunningham.
Controversial Plot Pulled
In 1963, producers decided that Sheila 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. The plot was rewritten, and 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.
Mayers later appeared in episodes of Keep It In The Family and I'm Not Bothered. In 2011, she made one of her final screen appearances in the documentary The Corrie Years, where the cut scenes were aired for the first time. She said: "I came out of Granada having finished and was greeted with a wall of journalists and I couldn't believe it."
Reflecting on the Unseen Episode
At the time, 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."
