Scandal
In 1963 Ellis Powell was dropped from the role of Mary Dale. She was bitter and said a lot to the press. The state of her health probably affected the situation as she died soon afterwards.
The following year, Frank Marcus's play The Killing of Sister George opened in London, starring - as did the later film - Beryl Reid. The story featured an actress who loses her part in a long-running serial, and clearly has connections with the controversy over Ellis Powell. "Sister George", however, was not replaced - her character was killed off, a far more common situation for an actor.
The new Mrs Dale was Jessie Matthews. Lord Olivier, who adored The Dales (he was a fan of British soap opera per se, and expressed a desire to appear in Coronation Street, a wish never fulfilled) referred to Jessie Matthews being cast as Mrs Dale as "The most wonderful example of mis-casting in the history of the profession".
Read more about this topic: Mrs Dale's Diary
Famous quotes containing the word scandal:
“The day the world ends, no one will be there, just as no one was there when it began. This is a scandal. Such a scandal for the human race that it is indeed capable collectively, out of spite, of hastening the end of the world by all means just so it can enjoy the show.”
—Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)
“Gossip isn’t scandal and it’s not merely malicious. It’s chatter about the human race by lovers of the same. Gossip is the tool of the poet, the shop-talk of the scientist, and the consolation of the housewife, wit, tycoon and intellectual. It begins in the nursery and ends when speech is past.”
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–1978)
“Certain it is that scandal is good brisk talk, whereas praise of one’s neighbour is by no means lively hearing. An acquaintance grilled, scored, devilled, and served with mustard and cayenne pepper excites the appetite; whereas a slice of cold friend with currant jelly is but a sickly, unrelishing meat.”
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863)