Former Coronation Street actress Mo Moreland dies aged 87

Former Coronation Street actress Mo Moreland has died aged 87 at her nursing residence after an extended sickness.

The actress died in her nursing residence in North Shore, on the Flyde coast, on Friday after battling Alzheimer’s illness.

Her good friend and Les Dawson’s spouse Tracy Dawson paid tribute to Ms Moreland, describing her as ‘like a mum and a sister’.

Ms Moreland was born in Sheffield in 1936 and appeared on Corrie for 2 episodes in April 1976 as a ‘Fat Lady’ trying to buy garments in Sylvia’s Separates.

But she was greatest often known as the lead dancer in comedy dance troupe The Roly Polys, which was devised by comic Mr Dawson. 

Former Coronation Street actress Mo Moreland has died aged 87 at her nursing residence following an extended sickness 

The star (centre) was greatest often known as the lead dancer in comedy dance troupe The Roly Polys which was devised by Les Dawson 

Leading the tributes, Ms Dawson instructed The Gazette: ‘I’m lacking her terribly as a result of she supported me a lot, I’m heartbroken.

‘The pretty factor was they performed the Rolly Poly and Les to her whereas she handed away.’

She continued: ‘She helped me when Les handed away as a result of I misplaced my mum after I was younger.

‘She took me below her wing and taken care of my daughter Charlotte and helped me deliver her up.

‘She was great and I’ll miss her deeply.’

Irish comic Jimmy Cricket, who appeared on long-running BBC present The Good Old Days in addition to sport present Bullseye, paid tribute on his X web page.

Posting a black and white of himself and Mrs Moreland within the boot of a automobile, he wrote: ‘Hi associates sadden to listen to of the passing of an ideal stage trouper Mo Moreland whom I first met as one half of ‘The Mighty Atom and Roy’. 

‘Mo was an ideal comedian/singer/dancer who fronted the wonderful ‘THE ROLY POLYS’.’ 

Syd Little, who was one half of comedy duo Little and Large alongside Eddie Large, instructed The Gazette that ‘Mo was pretty’.

‘We had some nice instances on stage together with her and the Roly Polys,’ he mentioned. 

‘I keep in mind one sketch through which Eddie was ‘Little Mo’ alongside her and the viewers liked her. She will likely be sadly missed.’

The 4ft 11in tall star was married to singer Roy Moreland from 1959 till his dying in 2001. 

The couple carried out collectively as The Mighty Atom and Roy, however her rise to fame on The Les Dawson Show pressured Roy out of labor, The Guardian reported in 2000. 

The purchased and ran a lodge collectively in Blackpool for 5 years which they named The Moreland Hotel.

The couple had initially deliberate to maintain the lodge operating till their retirement however they quickly bought up with Mrs Moreland desirous to proceed to faucet dance. 

‘I’ll solely retire when my legs surrender,’ she mentioned in 2000, ‘or when my diary tells me it is time.’ 

She additionally appeared in pantomimes and was identified for her charity work having sat on the committee of Cheerful Sparrows which helps the socially deprived. 

She was additionally president of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.