LISTEN - Memories of Auntie Jean the Corrie superstar
With previously unseen pictures and a full interview to listen to find out more about why Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street) loved York and her family's home at Burn so much
Jean Alexander was one of Britain's biggest TV stars with millions of fans.
She was also Auntie Jean to Sonia Hearld who lives in Burn near Selby.
It's a month after her private funeral service and Sonia together with her husband Bill, former Deputy Editor of the Press in York, have been talking to Minster FM's David Dunning.
LISTEN - Radio Interview in Full here
Sonia and Bill look at photos of Auntie Jean
Sonia says
"We knew that many people loved her but we were surprised by how many messages we got and how kind people were.
She always said without the fans she would have been nothing in the business. She couldn't understand stars who wouldn't sign autographs.
She was always nice and polite even if she was approached while eating she would say can I just finish my plate and I'll be with you."
Christmas at Burn - Hearld family photo
Sonia told us
"As very young children in the mid 60s we didn't have a TV at home. So we were allowed to go round to our Grandmother's house and stay up to watch Aunty Jean on TV.
But to be honest at that time it was just Aunty Jean doing a job. It was only when I started working TV later in life that i fully appreciated how big a star she was."
VIDEO - Jean arrives in Coronation Street (ITV Granada 1964)
VIDEO - Jean most famous scene (ITV Granada 1984)
VIDEO - Jean leaves the street (ITV Granada 1987)
Britain's best loved cleaning lady
Jean Alexander was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, in 1926. Her father worked as an electrician and the family lived in a terraced house with no indoor lavatory. Alexander had an elder brother, Kenneth.
She aspired to become an actress from an early age, and later said that she was inspired by variety acts she saw at the Pavilion theatre in her home city.
Jean Alexander spent five years as a library assistant in Liverpool before she began her acting career in 1949 at the Adelphi Guild Theatre in Macclesfield.
She later worked in rep in York living in a flat in what is now The Grange Hotel on Bootham.
Most of her parts were minor and she also worked as a wardrobe mistress and stage manager.
Jean first appeared in Coronation Street in 1962 in a minor role as a landlady. Two years later, she returned to the programme as Hilda Ogden. Ogden became highly popular with viewers and Alexander was often identified with her character. Of course in real life she was totally different and fans were often surprised to hear her own voice which sounded nothing like the famous character.
In 1988, Alexander made a guest appearance in the long-running BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine as Auntie Wainwright, the money-grabbing local junk shop owner.
She returned for a second guest appearance in 1989, and finally became a series regular in 1992, remaining until the end of the series in 2010.
Jean Alexander relaxing with family - Hearld Family photo
Sonia told us
"Auntie Jean was a very private person and she was not one for living life in public. She said no to the TV show "This is your Life" for example.
She didn't like being asked about why she hadn't married and why she lived alone in Southport. She coped with it by saying I know who I am"
She had a naughty sense of humour and was great fun to be with."
The funeral was a very private affair and Minster FM has been allowed to reprint the front page of the order of service. Only family and close friends were there and the media wasn't told of the time or location
Hear more about life with Auntie Jean by clicking on the link to the radio interview here
Find out how Sonia's husband met Jean 10 years before they married and didn't even know they were related until she finally told him about her.