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:
“We must cultivate our garden.
Furia to God one day in seven allots;
The other six to scandal she devotes.
Satan, by false devotion never flammed,
Bets six to one, that Furia will be damned.”
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)
“A famous theatrical actress
Played best in the role of malefactress.
Yet her home-life was pure
Except, to be sure,
A scandal or two just for practice.”
—Anonymous.
“There is no scandal like rags, nor any crime so shameful as poverty.”
—George Farquhar (1678–1707)