Lucille Hewitt
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Lucille Hewitt is a fictional character from the British ITV
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
'', played by Jennifer Moss. Created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation Street's'' original characters, at eleven years old Lucille was the show's only child character upon its inception and first appeared in the episode broadcast on 21 December 1960. Daughter of widowed bus conductor Harry Hewitt ( Ivan Beavis), Lucille spent several years in an orphanage in her youth, but occasionally visited her father. When Harry married again in 1961, this time to barmaid Concepta Riley ( Doreen Keogh), Lucille was able to return home but took an instant disliking to her stepmother. The following year, Concepta gave birth to a half-brother for Lucille,
Christopher Hewitt ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in the sho ...
(Stephen Ward). When Christopher was kidnapped while in his sister's care, Lucille received the blame, which strengthened the hatred between Lucille and Concepta. In 1964, Harry and Concepta moved to
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
alongside Christopher; however, Lucille refused to follow them, and ended up being fostered by local
landlords A landlord is the owner of property such as a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate that is rented or leased to an individual or business, known as a tenant (also called a ''lessee'' or ''renter''). The term landlord applies ...
Jack ( Arthur Leslie) and Annie Walker (
Doris Speed Doris Speed (3 February 1899 – 16 November 1994) was an English actress, best known for her role as landlady of the Rovers Return Inn, Annie Walker, on the British television soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Speed played this role from the p ...
). Both of Lucille's father figures died in the years that followed, with Harry being crushed to death in 1967 and Jack suffering a heart-attack in 1970. Another loss for Lucille came when she was jilted by her fiancée Gordon Clegg (
Bill Kenwright William Kenwright (4 September 1945 – 23 October 2023) was an English theatre and film producer. He was also the chairman of Everton Football Club for nearly two decades, from 2004 until his death in 2023. Early life Kenwright was born in ...
), and Lucille longed to escape Annie's strictly-run household. Over the years, Lucille and Concepta mended their relationship, and in 1974 Lucille joined her and Christopher in Ireland, never to return.


Development


Creation

One of ''Coronation Streets original characters conceived by Tony Warren, the character of Lucille existed as far back as the initial conception of the show, when ''Coronation Street'' was known as ''Florizel Street'', although at this time she was named Janice. Jennifer Moss made her debut as Lucille in the second dry run, alongside her onscreen father Harry Hewitt (Ivan Beavis). Due to being four foot eleven, Moss could pass for eleven years old, though she was nearly sixteen when Coronation Street premiered on 9 December 1960. In her early years, Lucille was portrayed as an impressionable young schoolgirl who had a difficult relationship with her stepmother, Concepta Riley ( Doreen Keogh). Four years older than her character, Moss related to the troubles Lucille went through as she got older: "If you're a teenager, a teenage rebel is quite easy to play because we've all gone through sort of the stroppy bit." As she was a minor when the programme first started, Moss's appearances were initially restricted. This was explained by Lucille living in an orphanage following the death of her mother. She made 29 appearances in 1961, up to November of that year, when the Equity actors' strike began, leaving Moss unable to sign a new contract until industrial action ended the following April. During this absence, Lucille was still living at 7 Coronation Street and would be mentioned occasionally to keep her alive in viewers' minds. Lucille was the first regular character to return after the strike was over, re-appearing in Episode 142 on 23 April 1962.


Personal problems and ultimate firing

Moss successfully battled
alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
in the 1980s, which was the reason underlying her being sacked from ''Coronation Street'' for bad behaviour by then-producer Susi Hush in 1974. Moss stated that she drank to numb the pain she felt after the death of her father, Reg. In an interview with the ''Evening Times'' in 1979, Moss, then living in a three-apartment house in
Wigan Wigan ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. It is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its ad ...
, found for her by the local Social Works Department when she was homeless, Moss said: "My youngest daughter, Sarah, is only three years old and is mentally handicapped... while I was pregnant I was drinking all the time. I will go to my grave with this damage to my child on my conscience." Her eldest daughter, Naomi (like Sarah) was taken into care, and her baby boy had died when he was three days old in 1976.


Storylines

Lucille runs away from the orphanage in December 1960 and finds her way back home. Her father, Harry Hewitt (Ivan Beavis), gives in to her pleas and arranges for her to stay for the holidays. Ultimately, Lucille is allowed to return permanently from the orphanage when her aunt, Alice Burgess ( Avis Bunnage), agrees to move in to look after her niece while her father is away working. However, the pair did not get on, and Alice's stay was a short one. Harry married barmaid Concepta Riley ( Doreen Keogh) in 1961, and the pair had a baby boy
Christopher Hewitt ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in the sho ...
(Stephen Ward) on 6 August the following year. Lucille was initially jealous of the baby because of the attention he got, and did not like the adjustments she had to make to accommodate the new arrival. She felt second-best to Christopher, and that she was losing the father who adored her to his new family. Lucille briefly ran away from home, but was persuaded to return by Ena Sharples ( Violet Carson). When she returned, the Hewitts planned a party to celebrate Harry and Concepta's first anniversary. Whilst Christopher was in Lucille's care, she went away for a moment, and when she returned, he was gone. Lucille was suspected by the police of having an active part in Christopher's disappearance because of her jealousy towards him. Christopher was later found, having been kidnapped by Joan Akers ( Anna Cropper). Concepta was always wanting Harry to move the family to
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
; in 1963, Harry conceded and for a moment the family looked set to leave
Weatherfield Weatherfield is a fictional town based on Salford, Greater Manchester, Salford, Greater Manchester, which has been the setting for the British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since its inception in 1960. Much of Weathe ...
. Lucille begged her father to change his mind, and only the issue of Lucille's schooling made him decide to stay. A year later, Concepta pressed Harry on the issue again, and this time he obliged. Lucille, however, was adamant that she was staying in Weatherfield to finish her exams. She moved in with Jack ( Arthur Leslie) and Annie Walker (
Doris Speed Doris Speed (3 February 1899 – 16 November 1994) was an English actress, best known for her role as landlady of the Rovers Return Inn, Annie Walker, on the British television soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Speed played this role from the p ...
) in the Rovers Return. At one point, Concepta asked Lucille to consider moving to Ireland until she turned 21, but Harry was fine with her staying behind. Unfortunately, later that day Harry was crushed to death while repairing a car. Lucille consequently stayed in Ireland for a while with Concepta. Upon her return, she fell in love with Gordon Clegg (
Bill Kenwright William Kenwright (4 September 1945 – 23 October 2023) was an English theatre and film producer. He was also the chairman of Everton Football Club for nearly two decades, from 2004 until his death in 2023. Early life Kenwright was born in ...
). Tired of their parents' interference, the couple attempted to elope to
Gretna Green Gretna Green is a parish in the southern Subdivisions of Scotland, council area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, close to the town of Gretna, Scotland, Gretna, on the Scottish side of the English-Scottish border. It is accessed from the A74( ...
, but missed their train. The marriage was cancelled at the last minute when Gordon jilted Lucille and left to work in London as an accountant. In 1974, Gordon returned for Maggie Clegg (
Irene Sutcliffe Irene Sutcliffe (12 July 1924 – 3 May 2019) was an English actress. She was best known for playing Maggie Clegg in ITV's ''Coronation Street'', a role she played from 1968 until 1975. She had a long career; her first credited TV role was in 1 ...
)'s wedding. To avoid seeing him, Lucille went to Ireland to visit her stepmother and half-brother. She never returned to Weatherfield.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewitt, Lucille Coronation Street characters Television characters introduced in 1960 British female characters in soap operas English female characters in television Child characters in soap operas