Paula Wilcox, the veteran actress best known for her role as Chrissy Plummer in the 1970s sitcom Man About the House, has delighted fans by hinting at a potential return to Coronation Street. The 76-year-old star, who played Elaine Jones on the soap, described a potential comeback as 'clever' and teased that her character could easily return.
A Storied Career
With a career spanning 57 years and over 60 TV shows, Paula Wilcox has proven her versatility. From The Benny Hill Show to Grantchester, she has done it all. Now, she is set to appear in the four-part psychological drama The Fortune on Channel 5, starting June 5. Despite the passage of time, she still gets recognised for Man About the House, a risqué comedy about a man sharing a flat with two women.
Reflections on Fame
Wilcox admitted that the fanmania from Man About the House was difficult to handle. 'I've never been very good at handling all that stuff,' she said. 'Richard was wonderful at it. He could be so nice to people. I just never did. You don't know what to do, you're scared and then you say, just leave me alone!' She also confessed to being tired of discussing the show professionally, especially when she was performing serious roles like Juliet.
Life After the Sitcom
Wilcox is now the only cast member of Man About the House still working. Richard O'Sullivan, who played Robin, lives in a retirement home after a stroke, and Sally Thomsett, who played Jo, has retired. Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce, who played the Ropers, have passed away. Wilcox remains in touch with Murphy's widow and occasionally sees O'Sullivan. However, she rarely sees Thomsett, jokingly urging her to 'get in touch' if she reads the interview.
Coronation Street Return
Wilcox played Elaine Jones, mother of Tim Metcalfe, on Coronation Street for three years. She expressed a desire to return if the storyline is right. 'If there's a terrific storyline I'd love to go back. I loved working with Joe and Sally. They were so good, so much fun and so clever. 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.'
New Role in The Fortune
In The Fortune, Wilcox plays Linda, the mother of Amanda Blakefield, who inherits a fortune from a stranger. Linda has dementia and holds the key to the past. Wilcox initially had reservations about playing a dementia patient, as her mother suffered from the condition. 'It's something that I was a bit wary of. My mum had dementia and it's absolutely awful. But this part is very different, and it's about 15 years ago now, so it's time to move on.'
Early Career and The Benny Hill Show
Wilcox began her TV career in 1969 on Coronation Street as teenage delinquent Janice Langton. She also appeared on The Benny Hill Show in 1972 but quickly realised it wasn't for her. 'I remember at one point he asked me to bend over the sofa and I said, ooh, no, I don't do things like that! I think he was trying to sauce it up a bit and I was having none of it.'
Still Ambitious
Even at 76, Wilcox has ambitions. 'I've never worked with the RSC or at the National Theatre, so those are two things that I'd still really like to do.' She finds acting as pleasurable as ever, noting that roles after 50 have become more interesting and challenging. 'You're not just being cast because you're cute and because of the way you look. You're given more challenging things and if you can rise to the challenge, then you get offered them again and that's very gratifying.'
Paula Wilcox appears in The Fortune on Channel 5 in June.
