It is reported that 'Coronation Street' actress Maggie Jones' condition has improved following major surgery.
The Press Association reports that a spokeswoman for the show said: "There has been an improvement this afternoon in Maggie's condition and she seems to have turned a bit of a corner."
Ms Jones, 75, who plays battle-axe Blanche Hunt, had an operation on Saturday and is in Hope Hospital, Salford, Greater Manchester.
No details are being released on the type of operation. The actress did not rupture her spleen in a fall, as has previously been reported, the spokeswoman said earlier.
Ms Jones, who is a widow, has been written out of all immediate scenes.
The actress was ruled out of filming for several weeks last April when she hurt her knee and shoulder during a fall.
Famous for her withering put-downs and trademark scowl, Blanche is one of the show's most popular characters.
The veteran actress, who trained at Rada, won a gong for Best Comedy Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2005 and 2008 for the role.
Fellow 'Coronation Street' veteran Bill Tarmey, who plays Jack Duckworth, said his thoughts were with the actress.
He said: "My beautiful Maggie. She is a delight, she is wonderful and I am just hoping she will be ok. We just sit and laugh together and I need her to get better otherwise I will be sitting on my own."
Speaking at a recent awards ceremony, Jones said she didn't find her character that humorous.
She said: "I don't find her funny and don't think I could play her properly if I did. Blanche genuinely believes what she's saying is right, and doesn't say things for comedic effect. If I started trying to play the lines for laughs, they wouldn't come out right and the performance would suffer.
"Everyone knows someone like Blanche - or if they don't, they wish they did! We'd all like to be as outspoken as her and have the nerve to say the things she does."
Ms Jones has played Deirdre Barlow’s straight-talking mum since 1974, although Blanche’s appearances in the soap have been erratic.
She appeared consistently from 1974-1976, before being reduced to occasional appearances over the next two years.
She appeared briefly again in 1981, 1996 and 1997 and resumed a full-time role in 1998.
