Paula Wilcox, best known for her role as Chrissy Plummer in the 1970s sitcom Man About the House, has hinted at a possible return to Coronation Street. The 76-year-old actress played Elaine Jones, mother of Tim Metcalfe, on the ITV soap for three years. Speaking about a potential comeback, she said: 'If there's a terrific storyline I'd love to go back. There's no reason why Elaine couldn't come back. She's still Tim's mother after all. He can't get rid of her.'
Wilcox, who has enjoyed a 57-year career spanning theatre and television, also reflected on the challenges of fame following Man About the House. She admitted she found fan attention difficult to handle, saying: 'I've never been very good at handling all that stuff. You don't know what to do, you're scared and then you say, “just leave me alone!” It doesn't endear you to people.'
The actress, who is the only main cast member from Man About the House still working, will next appear in the four-part psychological drama The Fortune on Channel 5, starting June 5. The series follows Amanda Blakefield, played by Eleanor Tomlinson, whose life is turned upside down after inheriting money from a stranger. Wilcox plays a supporting role in the drama, which also stars Stephen Tompkinson and Denis Lawson.
Despite her extensive career, Wilcox revealed she would love to return to sitcoms. She said: 'Now, all these years later, I'd love to do a proper sitcom again.' She also expressed a desire to reconnect with former co-star Sally Thomsett, who played Jo in Man About the House, saying: 'Sally has moved and she's very naughty, because she doesn't necessarily let you know what her phone number is. So, if she reads this – get in touch!'
