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Pauline McLynn, who plays new Coronation Street matriarch has an interesting connection to the inaugural Rover’s barmaid (Picture: ITV) Fans rejoiced when it was announced that legendary actress, Pauline McLynn would be moving to Weatherfield as Maggie, the matriarch of the new Driscoll clan, who, alongside daughter-in-law, Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), are taking over the streets iconic boozer, the Rover’s Return. With even co-stars warning viewers of what was to come, viewers praised the episode featuring the arrival of the new clan as the ‘best in years’. The episode in question featured the revelation that, despite what Eva had been lead to believe, Maggie is the true owner of the pub. Speaking recently, Pauline discussed an interesting connection she shared with the first ever barmaid featured in the pub her alter-ego now owns: Pauline has acted alongside the Rover’s original barmaid (Picture: ITV) ‘Funny thing – someone got in touch on social media and sent me a picture of the first ever barmaid in the Rovers Return, from 1960 to 1964 – an Irish woman called Doreen Keogh. She was in lots of things – she played the Irish neighbour in The Royle Family, and she was the woman Mrs Doyle wrestled to the floor about paying a bill in Father Ted! ‘She had a bad back, so I said, ‘Doreen, lie there and I’ll move you.’ We just had to scream at one another. She was the first ever barmaid, playing Concepta Riley. So there’s a long tradition of the Irish in the Rovers.’ That’s not all the tea that Pauline spilled in regards to her new alter-ego, as she followed on from co-star Catherine’s previous assessment of their relationship: ‘there’s a moment that we did not so long ago where Eva, in a roundabout way, says “If I wasn’t with Ben and I’d just met Maggie, I think we’d be mates.” There’s a lot of similarities.’ Pauline opened up on Maggie’s relationship with Eva (Picture: ITV) ‘Cath was right when she said that in another life Eva and Maggie would get on like a house on fire – if it weren’t for Eva being with one of Maggie’s beloved sons. She has two sons – I haven’t met the other one yet, but I know he exists! Depending on what story needs to be told, we may meet him, we may not. ‘But that’s the brilliant thing about Corrie: families, communities, all the politics of it. Watching that episode, seeing how all the stories intertwine in a community, I thought, ‘This is so great. I hope we’ve pulled our socks up enough to fit right in.’ It’s a real privilege to be allowed to tell these stories.’ With Christmas fast approaching (I’m sorry!), and show boss Kate Brooks promising that the Driscoll’s will be at the heart of the always-packed festive episodes, Pauline teased her characters ‘outrageous’ behaviour. The Driscoll’s are set to take centre stage at Christmas (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ITV) ‘She’s fiercely loyal and protective of her family. There’ll be things happening over Christmas where you think, ‘Oh come on, that’s very bad behaviour at the very least!’ My family will probably say, ‘Is that your mother Sheila you’re playing there?’ The older she got, the more she’d push boundaries – and I’ve got a bit of that in me too. ‘Maggie likes to throw in the most outrageous things just to see how far she can go. But often that line has been long passed! And she’ll say, “What’s the fuss about? You’re a bit touchy, aren’t you?” If you’re a certain age my might feel you have a certain licence to act badly, you know? ‘Because you’re the Mammy. And, of course, she has that thing she can hold over all the family, and she uses that like a blunt instrument: ‘You’re only here because of my money. I own the place – you just work in it.’ Which is a hard one for anyone to get over.’ Pauline is thrilled to be a part of Coronation Street (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ITV) So how is Pauline finding life as one of Weatherfields newest residents? ‘This is the first time I’ve ever walked into a place and felt immediately at home, immediately part of the family. That’s what I mean about casting – we all feel like we’ve known one another forever. ‘I feel, in the best way, like I’ve been here longer than I have. Things are getting a bit itchy now because it’s my honeymoon period – we’re about ten to twelve weeks ahead with the stories. Nobody knows anything about what’s to come, but once we’re on screen, I presume all hell will break loose – fans liking it or not liking it and all that!’
