Jones, Kathy

Kathy was born in Crewe. She is an actress/singer, who is best remembered for her role as Tricia Hopkins in 123 episodes of Coronation Street (ITV, 24th – 26th September 1973; 8th July 1974 – 28th April 1975 and 23rd June 1975 – 9th June 1976).

She first appeared in the long-running soap as an uncredited shop girl on 27th January 1971 and 20th September 1972.

Other acting/TV credits:

• All Creatures Great and Small (1978);
• How We Used to Live (1979);
• guest appearances on The Good Old Days (1975);
• Arrows (1976);
• Pop Gospel (1979);
• Betty Driver’s This Is Your Life (ITV, 1976).

However, for a generation of children, she is fondly remembered for presenting Granada TV’s children’s series A Handful of Songs (1973 – 1974), Kathy’s Quiz (1976) and Song Book (1978 – 1982).

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Kathy in August 2022.

When you first appeared for two episodes in Coronation Street, were you aware the producers might bring your character back?

“When I recorded those first episodes, I had no idea they were looking for a regular character. Former archivist and writer Daran Little (he should know), tells me the script writers created the Tricia character after seeing me. So I’m especially honoured.”

What was it like as a young actress appearing with such legendary characters/actors who had been in the show for over a decade?

“I had seen most of the Street actors and actresses in the canteen at Granada, so I was used to meeting them, but to be acting in The Street alongside them was daunting to begin with, but they were all very welcoming.

“Betty Driver looked after me, she mothered me. Her background was singing too so we had mutual ground. I got along with them all. Peter Adamson and I worked a summer season of Sunday nights in Morecambe. He sang and told a few jokes, I sang, and we had guest appearances from some of the cast.”

Was it your decision to leave?

“It wasn’t my decision to leave The Street. I was told my character had run her course.”

How did you get to work in children’s TV at Granada TV – had you done singing roles before?

“I have always been a singer. Muriel Young remembered me from Johnny Hamp’s First-Timers programme and invited me to record a pilot programme, A Handful of Songs.”

What was it like working with the legendary producer Muriel Young and had you watched her when she was a children’s presenter in the early days of ITV?

“Muriel Young was such a joy to work with, a gracious lady.  Her recording days were behind her when I first met her, so I only knew her as a producer.”

What are your memories of the three series you worked on and why was there a gap in 1975 and 1977?

“A Handful of Songs was the first children’s show and I left that to join the cast of Coronation Street, so that’s when Maria Morgan took over.  Muriel asked me to return to her for more children’s shows should I ever leave The Street. So when I did, she very kindly produced Kathy’s Quiz, and later Songbook.”

Are you in touch with your fellow co-presenters?

“I Facebook Lynn Garner and Noel Cameron, however I’ve lost touch with Keith. We did e-mail each other a few times. Leo didn’t want to keep in touch with anyone.

“Keeping in touch is so much easier today than it was in the 1970s.  However we all got on extremely well back then, so it’s just the way it is.”

 

Personal information

Clips of Kathy on The TV Room

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Rewind | Clean Feed

Online presence

Acknowledgements