Throughout TV history, soap operas have been one of the most enduring formats, with shows like Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks all vying for screen time across the channels.
Back in the 1970s, the story was a little different, as there were only three television channels at the time: BBC1, BBC2 and ITV.
As a result, the actors who appeared on these weekly shows became even more embedded in the lives of UK viewers, with two powerhouse programmes dominating the soap landscape: Coronation Street and Crossroads.
From Pat Phoenix and Jean Alexander to Noele Gordon and Paul Henry, here are the leading soap stars of the '70s – and where they are now.
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© PA Images via Getty ImagesPat Phoenix
Perhaps one of the most famous faces in British soap history, Pat Phoenix portrayed the independent and glamorous Elsie Tanner from the very first episode of Coronation Street in 1960.
After taking a break from the show in 1973, the actress returned from 1976 until 1984. She then starred in regional stage productions including Spider's Web (1985) and The Man (1984).
The actress married three times: first to actor Peter Marsh, then to her Coronation Street co-star Alan Browning and finally to actor Anthony Booth, the father of future Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie Blair.
Just two years after leaving Coronation Street, Pat sadly passed away from lung cancer in 1986 at the age of 62.
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© Getty ImagesJean Alexander
Another icon of soap history is Jean Alexander, who played busybody Hilda Ogden on Coronation Street from 1964 to 1987. She also portrayed Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine between 1988 and 2010.
After her stint on Corrie, Jean appeared in a string of TV and film projects, including Scandal (1989), Rich Tea and Sympathy (1991), Willie's War (1994) and The Phoenix and the Carpet (1997).
Jean never married and, in 1989, released The Other Side of the Street: The Autobiography of Jean Alexander. In 2012, the actress announced her retirement after more than 50 years in the business and spent her later years living quietly in Southport, Merseyside. She passed away at the age of 90 in October 2016.
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© TV Times/Future Publishing via GAnne Kirkbride played Deirdre opposite William
William Roache
William Roache holds the world record for being the longest-serving cast member in a continuous role, having played Ken Barlow in Coronation Street since its first broadcast in 1960.
In 1999, he received the British Soap Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for his role and has also written multiple books reflecting on his life on and off screen.
Now 94, William still plays Ken in the hit soap and is a father to three surviving children, whom he shares with his former wives Anna Cropper and Sara McEwan Mottram. He also welcomed two more children, Vanya and Edwina Roache, who sadly passed away.
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© TV Times/Future Publishing via GNoele Gordon
Coronation Street wasn't the only show dominating the '70s, as Midlands-set Crossroads also became hugely popular. Noele Gordon played sophisticated motel owner Meg Mortimer from 1964 to 1981 and won the TV Times Most Popular Actress award a record eight times during the decade.
After being written out of the show, Noele returned briefly for two episodes in 1983. She later took to the stage, appearing in theatre productions including Gypsy, The Boyfriend, Call Me Madam and No, No, Nanette.
Despite being engaged to Captain Robertson Crichton in 1941, Noele never married and lived with her mother throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1982, she was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away in 1985 at the age of 65.
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© TV Times/Future Publishing via GPaul Henry
Paul Henry joined the cast of Crossroads in 1975 as lovable, hat-wearing handyman Benny Hawkins. During his time on the show between 1975 and 1988, Paul quickly rose to fame and became one of its most recognisable stars, earning widespread affection from viewers.
The 80-year-old actor also appeared as Peter Stevens in The Archers, medical soap opera Doctors and prison drama Bad Girls.
Paul married his wife Sheila in 1968, and the couple welcomed two children: a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Justine, who tragically died in a traffic accident at the age of 19.
