It's scary...'

Paula Wilcox on playing Corrie monster Geoff Metcalfe’s first wife

- Alison Slade

CORONATION STREET

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY / ITV / 7.30PM / SOAP

Back in 1969, Paula Wilcox had a guest stint in Corrie as Ray Langton’s wayward sister, Janice. Now, 51 years later, she’s back on the cobbles as Elaine Jones – the first wife of abusive Geoff Metcalfe and biological mother of Tim – who has been through the same ordeal as Geoff’s current missus, Yasmeen.

Here, Paula, 70 – who became a household name as a star of 1970s sitcoms The Lovers!, The Liver Birds and Man About the House – talks about returning to Weatherfield, and why Elaine is vital to Geoff’s downfall…

How did this role come about?