Coronation St’s Betty Driver dies

15 October 2011 Last updated at 06:44 ET

Actress Betty Driver arrived at the Rovers Return in 1969

Coronation Street actress Betty Driver has died at the age of 91, a spokesman says.

Driver joined the ITV soap in 1969 as barmaid Betty Turpin – later Williams.

She was employed on a three-month contract but stayed for 42 years. “I thought, why not,” Driver recalled. “It’ll make a break for a while.”

She had already been in showbusiness for more than 40 years, touring the UK as a singer by the age of 12. Driver was appointed an MBE in 1999.

In January 2011 she told the BBC she would never retire. “I just love working and I will never retire – ever – they’ll have to shoot me to get rid of me,” she said. “I just love people, see, and I love the cast.”

ITV said Driver “died peacefully in hospital” early on Saturday morning. She had been in hospital for six weeks.

“She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her,” the spokesman said.

‘Foundation’ of Rovers

Fellow Coronation Street barmaid Julie Goodyear – character Bet Lynch – said Driver was “the very foundation of the Rovers Return”.

“It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend and a very dear friend,” she said.

“She will be missed and remembered by millions.”

Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan in the soap, said: “I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character, a professional to her fingertips – she will be greatly missed.”

Driver had a seven-year marriage to singer Wally Peterson, which ended in her late 30s.

— ’re ’s , . : A ‘Malign Intellectual Subculture’ – George Monbiot Smears Chomsky, Herman, Peterson, Pilger And Media Lens.