She arrived as Maggie Driscoll in October and quickly revealed herself to be the owner of the Rovers Return
Pauline McLynn playing Maggie Driscoll in Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Pauline McLynn may have only recently joined Coronation Street but she’s set to cement herself in the long-running show’s history in upcoming scenes.
The actress, famed for the role of Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, arrived as Maggie Driscoll in October and quickly revealed herself to be the owner of the Rovers Return.
She followed her son, Ben Driscoll, onto the cobbles, after he brought Eva Price back to Weatherfield after seven years – alongside their children, Susie Price and Ollie and Will Driscoll – and surprised her with the beloved boozer, telling her she was the new landlady.
A delighted Eva wasted no time in settling into the pub and welcoming all the regulars with a huge opening party. But it was the arrival of Ben’s mum, Maggie, that ruffled feathers, as she delivered the shock news to Eva that she is, in fact, the landlady after Ben had to ask her for financial help.
But it’s now been revealed that in early December, a special flashback episode will focus on Maggie’s birthday and as viewers see tensions flaring in the Rovers and learn there’s more to this family dynamic than meets the eye.
The flashback episode, set to air on Monday, December 8, will provide viewers with a glimpse of Maggie’s earlier life and how the matriarchal mother-in-law from hell came to be.
Eva’s made her dislike of Maggie quite clear, and with the feelings seemingly mutual, the audience will be left wondering if Eva needs to watch her back. The question is, however, what is Maggie really capable of?
Viewers will discover more about Maggie in the special flashback episode(Image: ITV)
Speaking about Maggie’s birthday, Pauline revealed that the soap has paid homage to its own big milestone, as it marks 65 years since its first episode on December 9
“It is going to be a very big birthday. She’s 65, which is a nod to the show’s anniversary,” she shared. The whole birthday thing is kind of a ‘Happy Birthday to the show’ element too.
“When it comes to events, Maggie, we discover, is like anybody who’s the head of the family, as she sees it. You put on your game face every day, you go out, and you do what you have to; you put on a performance, I think. What we”ll find out during the birthday is we get to know a little bit more of the personal Maggie, whether she likes it or not.”
It’s also been revealed in a preview for this Christmas that the Rovers will be a hub of activity and as tensions rise, secrets bubble to the surface.
Eva is wracked with guilt over a secret of her own and daughter Susie’s innocent wish for a sibling sends her spiralling. Meanwhile, Maggie’s suspicions are piqued by a hidden letter and a tender moment between Eva and her former flame, Adam Barlow. As Eva confides in Adam, Maggie’s conniving plan to oust Eva begins to unfold, promising a Christmas dinner no one will forget!
With Adam and Alya and Daniel Osbourne and Megan invited, much to Will’s fury, who’s having his own secret relationship with groomer Megan, viewers will be treated to an explosive Christmas Day showdown with shattering consequences, while accusations and revelations mean fists fly.
And as one member of the Driscoll family is thrown out of the pub, a brutal attack on another attendee of the Christmas dinner from hell leaves someone unconscious in the ginnel. Who will it be, who is responsible and what dark secrets will be exposed?
Speaking about being part of Corrie’s fesitve offering, Pauline shared: “Well, you know, it’s such a big thing, growing up and everything, to watch the Christmas episode of Coronation Street. I will be watching it with some family this year, and it’ll be just the strangest, most wonderful, and really surreal thing, because it’s one of the traditions of Christmas television.
“I happen to know that the family will behave as badly as any other family at Christmas. We have to forgive a lot, I think, with families when it comes to Christmas, because somebody always dirties their bib, don’t they? And Maggie behaves particularly badly, I will have to say. She’s particularly mean to a range of people—it’s not just one.
“It’s a kind of equal opportunity insulting of everyone. And she’s invited half the street around, so there’s plenty of people there to choose from to insult or to just let be witness to the insulting of other people.”
