Coronation Street fans were ecstatic after Barbara Knox and Thelma Barlow reunited in Cheshire on Wednesday (July 19).
The two soap legends, who starred as iconic duo Rita Tanner and Mavis Wilton for more than two decades together, were all smiles as they attended the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.
Barbara, 89, who still appears on the ITV soap, was presented with her own rose variety which was grown and named in her honour ahead of her 90th birthday.
READ MORE: Corrie Spider star admits being ‘too enamoured with party scene’ during first soap stint
Before the presentation began, Barbara enjoyed an emotional reunion with 94-year-old Thelma, who starred as Mavis from 1971 until 1997.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
For the occasion, Barbara opted for a multi-coloured pattered shirt and matching trousers, while Thelma sported a floral print white jacket which she teamed with a pair of cream trousers.
Their sweet reunion was caught on camera and will feature in a new ITV documentary celebrating Barbara’s upcoming milestone birthday, due to be released in Autumn.
Audiences fell in love with the comedy duo and were understandably left devastated when Mavis bid farewell to the cobbles for a new life in the Lake District.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Therefore it’s no surprise that fans went wild over the reunion, with several begging Thelma to return to the soap.
One fan demanded: “Bring Mavis back!” as a another echoed: “Bring back Mavis, a beautiful friendship. Wonderful ladies.”
“These pics are absolutely lovely. Two iconic characters reunited. One of Corrie’s best double acts. Love it,” gushed a third fan as someone else proclaimed: “These are possibly the greatest pictures of all time”.
(Image: Men Media)
Another person chimed: “Aww Rita and Mavis together. The best double act,” while a sixth added: “So lovely to see Barbara and Thelma back together! Proper corrie legends.”
Thelma, who went on to star in BBC sitcom Dinnerladies and Doctor Who, previously admitted she felt the soap had lost its humour over the years.
Speaking on the Distinct Nostalgia podcast, she said: ‘”The Street, when I was in it, had this wonderful thing of comedy, the comedy characters. It was held in such high regard when I was in it. And the warmth of the public was so noticeable.
(Image: Men Media)
“I don’t watch it regularly now. I occasionally will have a look but I don’t see much to laugh at now. I think it is a shame.
“We used to get scripts where you’d talk about nothing important, but they could be so real and so funny. It was normal conversation without having great meaning and drama to it.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
