Fans adored her, stars loved her and for a generation of viewers she was the big name in TV.
At 6.35pm on weekdays, 18 million tuned in to see Noele Gordon play Meg Richardson – the matriarchal boss of the Crossroads Motel.
The fictional hotel in Birmingham was famed for its wobbling scenery and in many ways, felt like a UK forerunner to Aussie soap Neighbours.