Eileen Derbyshire – Emily Bishop from Coronation Street

If the Coronation Street cast makes for one big family, then there’s no doubt Eileen Derbyshire’s the great matriarchal figure. The godmother of British soap operas, Derbyshire portrayed Emily Bishop for an unbelievable 55 years before retiring in 2016. Believe it or not, she made her first appearance in the show in 1961!

Now enjoying her well-deserved retirement, Derbyshire has confessed that she’s not thinking of coming back to the small screen, mostly due to her advanced age. Still, she made a Coronation Street cameo in 2019. In 2010, she was presented with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.