What if Pat Phoenix had lived?

[CAEF]

She died in Sep 1986 of lung cancer, almost 3 years after leaving Corrie. If she had lived, I wonder if she would have returned to Corrie yet again at some stage? Jean Alexander bowed out in 1987 as Hilda and I have a feeling the producers may have asked Pat to reprise her role as Elsie again.

Say for instance Bill Gregory died in 1988 and Elsie returned to Weatherfield where all her friends lived. I could imagine Elsie having scenes with Liz McMutton.

[Deleted]

It is food for thought.

The producers may have been able to tempt back Phillip Lowrie sooner to return as Dennis Tanner, and perhaps the introduction of a new Tanner family in the street and the full time return of Paul and Martin Cheveski. Although it is strange trying to imagine an older Elsie being around for the 1990s and 2000s Corrie.

[roverman]

I think the question is here, was Pat looking to return to the Street post 1984 and was only prevented from doing so by her health and untimely death?

In all honesty I don't think she did want to come back. She'd been in the show since the start with a 3 year break between 1973 and 1976, and she openly stated in 1984 she was wanting to pursue other projects. She did a comedy series called Constant Hot Water and a television play called Hidden Talents before she passed away.

Had Pat survived but was extremely poor because of the cancer treatment she may well have returned to the Street for financial reasons, but I think she would have found it very hard to keep pace, especially post 1989 when it went to 3 episodes a week. I also think the character would have felt very out of step with the modern Street, what would have been nice though would have been for her and Rita to have become close friends, their histories with Len had made it hard but with him gone it would have been good to have worked on that aspect.

Would Philip Lowrie have come back earlier? Possibly.

[Holey]

I don't think Pat would have returned to the street, i think she'd had enough and wanted to leave. I think she would have done what Anita Dobson has done and continued to work, picking roles and enjoying life. Such a shame she was not able to do so. The same can be said for the much missed Wendy Richard.

[roverman]

Also Noele Gordon who died weeks before being offered a contract to go back into Crossroads for a stint.

[CAEF]

If she had lived, Pat Phoenix could have had a guest role in Emmerdale or Crossroads. Imagine Pat Phoenix and Sheila Mercier in a scene together?

[Deleted]

I guess Elsie's return wouldn't have worked as it would have ruined her great exit and happy ending with Bill Gregory. Great ending to the character after 23 years.

[Zeus89]

I can't imagine a 70 year old Elsie Tanner on the street, the thought of her still trying to keep up with her looks, was sort of explored already. If we had seen her death, like a Pat Butcher style with Dennis Tanner returning I would have liked that.

[CAEF]

If Elsie had returned years later and then died in about 2015, no doubt a absurd storyline would be written "as a tribute to her" where turned out to be Carla's grandmother, and that Carla and Rob's mum was the illegitimate daughter of Elsie.

[Uncle Quentin]

I wonder how massive her tits would be now??

They were pretty huge in the 1980s.

Even as a young lad I always imagined she had nipples you could hang a duffle coat on.

[Holey]

She did have lovely Bristol City's Unq. I did wonder if ever one of those buttons on her blouse would pop off and all would be revealed.