Angela Rosemary Crow (13 December 1935 – 3 March 2022) was an English television actress, best known for her appearance in the early days of British soap opera Coronation Street, as factory worker Doreen Lostock, between 1961 and 1963.[1]

Angela Crow
Born13 December 1935
Died3 March 2022 (age 86)
OccupationActress
Years active1956–2005
SpouseMichael Woods

Early life edit

Crow trained at RADA, and following her graduation in 1954, toured in companies appearing in provincial theatres, as well as the Edinburgh Festival.[2]

Career edit

Early career edit

Crow's first television appearance was in Rheingold Theatre, in 1956.[citation needed] She also appeared in other television programmes such as Hancock's Half Hour, BBC Sunday Night Theatre and a 1960 adaption of the Charles Dickens novel, Barnaby Rudge.[3][4]

Coronation Street edit

In 1960, Crow was cast as ditzy factory worker Doreen Lostock in the newly-commissioned ITV soap opera, Coronation Street.[3] Crow appeared for two years from 1961, but was absent for most of 1962 due to the Equity Actor's Strike. The character reappeared in June of that year, before departing for good in October. During her tenure, her character had a relationship with Billy Walker (Ken Farrington), son of popular long-standing character Annie (Doris Speed).

The character of Doreen had a particularly good friendship with fellow factory worker Sheila Birtles (Eileen Mayers). This friendship proved popular with the public, and served as a basis for the friendships of future young characters.

Forty-nine years later, Crow appeared in the 2012 documentary The Corrie Years to discuss her experience on the show.[5]

Later career edit

After leaving Coronation Street, Crow has appeared in various popular television shows. One of which was the Street spin-off, Pardon the Expression, in which Crow played shop assistant Miss Clapper.[6] Ironically, the character worked under Arthur Lowe's character Leonard Swindley, who had been the boss of Crow's character when she was on Coronation Street.

Other appearances include Dixon of Dock Green, Last of the Summer Wine, Love Thy Neighbour, Grange Hill and Heartbeat.[4]

Selected filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1957 Hancock's Half Hour Housemaid
1958, 1959 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Doll Simmons
Patricia Smith
1960 Barnaby Rudge Betsy 6 episodes
1961–1963 Coronation Street Doreen Lostock Regular role; 145 episodes
1966 Pardon the Expression Miss Clapper
1971 Dixon of Dock Green June Green
1973, 1975, 1976 Crown Court Rachel Mackintosh
Ethel Flynn
Jane Page
3 episodes
2 episodes
1 episode
1975 Last of the Summer Wine Gloria
1974–1975 Love Thy Neighbour Sheila Garside 2 episodes
1988–1990 Grange Hill Mrs. Birtles Recurring role; 8 episodes
1988 Jack the Ripper (miniseries) TV-miniseries Elizabeth Stride
1995, 2002 Heartbeat Lily Conway
Rose Protheroe
1996 Casualty Jean Chesham
2005 The Royal Mabel

References edit

  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (23 March 2022). "Angela Crow Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Angela Crow — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
  3. ^ a b "Angela Crow". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Angela Crow". www.aveleyman.com.
  5. ^ ITV1, 7 30pm (22 August 2012). "The Corrie Years". Express.co.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Angela Crow". British Comedy Guide.

External links edit