Elizabeth Maud Edwards (16 October 1906 – 24 March 1991), professionally known as Maudie Edwards, was a Welsh actress, radio broadcaster, comedian, dancer and singer, best remembered for having spoken the first line of dialogue in soap opera Coronation Street, and playing Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes.[1][2] She was previously best known to listeners of the radio programme Welsh Rarebit, which attracted weekly audiences of 10 million.[1]
Born in 16 Florence St. Neath, Glamorgan, Wales,[3] to semi-professional comedian and singer Ned Edwards, she appeared on stage at the age of four, with her sister May, as Ned Edwards' Two Little Queenies.[1]
She presented her signature tune before radio broadcasts of Welsh Rarebit with the lyrics:
I bring you the voice of the people from over the hills and dales
and the voice of the people is brought to you by a voice that comes from Wales[1]
Edwards had a talent for comedy, and formed her own repertory company, The Maudie Edwards Players, who performed in the Palace Theatre, Swansea. In films of the 1940s, she provided a singing voice for film stars Diana Dors, Margaret Lockwood and Gene Tierney.[1] Edwards wrote some of her own material.[4]
She made her first screen appearance in 1936 and her last in 1972. In 1950, she appeared on stage with Frank Sinatra at the London Palladium. She played Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes of British soap opera Coronation Street in 1960 and was the first performer to speak during the first scene in the show's history: "Now the next thing you've got to do is to get a signwriter in - that thing above the door'll have to be changed."
Personal life and deathedit
In 1954, Edwards married Walter Nicholas-Marcy, a businessman, in Westminster.[5][6][7] Four years later, she married Colonel William Fooks in St Pancras.[8][9][10]
Edwards spent her final years living in Putney, south west London. She died in London, aged 84, in 1991, predeceasing Fooks. Edwards bequeathed her archive material to the Victoria and Albert Museum.[4]
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Maudie Edwards news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Elizabeth Maud Edwards 16 October 1906 24 March 1991 professionally known as Maudie Edwards was a Welsh actress radio broadcaster comedian dancer and singer best remembered for having spoken the first line of dialogue in soap opera Coronation Street and playing Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes 1 2 She was previously best known to listeners of the radio programme Welsh Rarebit which attracted weekly audiences of 10 million 1 Maudie EdwardsBornElizabeth Maud Edwards 1906 10 16 16 October 1906Neath Glamorgan WalesDied24 March 1991 1991 03 24 aged 84 London EnglandOccupationsActressbroadcastersingerdancercomedienne 1 Years active1910 1972 1 SpousesWalter Nicholas Marcy m 1954 div 1958 wbr William Fooks m 1958 wbr Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life and death 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBorn in 16 Florence St Neath Glamorgan Wales 3 to semi professional comedian and singer Ned Edwards she appeared on stage at the age of four with her sister May as Ned Edwards Two Little Queenies 1 Career editEdwards would go on to play the principal boy in many pantomimes 4 She presented her signature tune before radio broadcasts of Welsh Rarebit with the lyrics I bring you the voice of the people from over the hills and dalesand the voice of the people is brought to you by a voice that comes from Wales 1 Edwards had a talent for comedy and formed her own repertory company The Maudie Edwards Players who performed in the Palace Theatre Swansea In films of the 1940s she provided a singing voice for film stars Diana Dors Margaret Lockwood and Gene Tierney 1 Edwards wrote some of her own material 4 She made her first screen appearance in 1936 and her last in 1972 In 1950 she appeared on stage with Frank Sinatra at the London Palladium She played Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes of British soap opera Coronation Street in 1960 and was the first performer to speak during the first scene in the show s history Now the next thing you ve got to do is to get a signwriter in that thing above the door ll have to be changed Personal life and death editIn 1954 Edwards married Walter Nicholas Marcy a businessman in Westminster 5 6 7 Four years later she married Colonel William Fooks in St Pancras 8 9 10 Edwards spent her final years living in Putney south west London She died in London aged 84 in 1991 predeceasing Fooks Edwards bequeathed her archive material to the Victoria and Albert Museum 4 Filmography editThe Flying Doctor 1936 1 My Learned Friend 1943 The Shipbuilders 1943 I ll Be Your Sweetheart 1945 singing voice of Margaret Lockwood 1 Query 1945 Pink String and Sealing Wax 1945 Murder in Reverse 1945 Walking on Air 1946 School for Randle 1949 Girdle of Gold 1952 Diamond City 1949 dubbed singing voice of Diana Dors 1 Night and the City as dubbed singing voice of Gene Tierney 1 Take a Powder 1953 The Strange World of Planet X TV series 1956 The Errol Flynn Theatre TV series 1956 Life at Stake 1957 The Ugly Duckling 1959 Coronation Street TV series 1960 The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre TV series 1961 The Clue of the New Pin 1961 Only Two Can Play 1962 Dixon of Dock Green TV series 1962 Band of Thieves 1962 Under Milk Wood 1972 Burke amp Hare 1972 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k Maudie Edwards 16 October 1906 24 March 1991 Swanseagrand co uk Retrieved 2 August 2020 Maudie Edwards BFI Archived from the original on 21 July 2012 Corrie star s Swan to watch if Scott joins club WalesOnline 8 August 2010 Retrieved 9 December 2020 a b c Maudie Edwards Archive Archives Hub Retrieved 9 December 2020 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 19 August 2021 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 19 August 2021 Maudie Edwards Actress Singer Comedienne Her Fiance Editorial Stock Photo Stock Image Shutterstock Shutterstock Editorial Retrieved 19 August 2021 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 19 August 2021 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 19 August 2021 Obituary Maudie Edwards The Independent 5 April 1991 External links editMaudie Edwards at IMDb The Maudie Edwards Collection is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum Theatre and Performance Department nbsp This biographical article about a British singer is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This article about a Welsh actor is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maudie Edwards amp oldid 1218483920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
