TV fans have been treated to a rare update on Coronation Street legend Eileen Derbyshire, 93, a decade after she left the cobbles for an ‘extended break’. 

While the actress did make a brief cameo on the show in 2019 via a video call, she has remained entirely out of the spotlight since 2016. 

Now, her son, Oliver Holt, a sports journalist, has updated fans on her quieter life in her 90s, revealing that the woman who played Emily Bishop for a staggering 55 years is ‘well looked after and happy’. 

He told The Times: ‘[My mother is] private, and one of the last of a dying breed of old-fashioned actresses who do it for the love of acting, not for all the attendant publicity.’

Even when she was still a regular feature on Coronation Street, Eileen only gave a handful of public interviews over the years.

Eileen Derbyshire first appeared on Coronation Street way back in 1961 and became well known for her string of ill-fated romances in the shoes of Emily Bishop

Telly fans have been treated to a rare update on Coronation Street legend Eileen, 93, a decade after she left the cobbles for an ‘extended break’

Eileen’s son Oliver recently gave fans a rare insight into his mother’s Corrie archive on Twitter/X and provided a rare update about the veteran TV star

Taking to Twitter/X, Oliver gave fans a rare insight into his mother’s Corrie archive. 

The British hit has been a staple of primetime telly since 1960, with Eileen being one of the longest-standing cast members.  

Alongside a picture of the cast from 1969, Oliver wrote: ‘Back at my mum’s place. Found this packed away. Halcyon days of Coronation Street.’ 

He added of a framed collage: ‘Still in its wrapping – pH๏τo marking 30th anniversary of the start of the Street.’ 

This sweet trip down memory lane had several fans asking how Eileen is doing now.

One wrote: ‘I’m loving these memories, but is your Mum okay?’ 

Oliver replied: ‘She’s doing ok, Matthew. It’s kind of you to ask. 

‘She’s 93 now so she has a few issues but she’s well looked after and is happy.’

Eileen’s desire to stay out of the spotlight was so great that she never appeared at award ceremonies or on red carpets with her fellow cast members

Her final appearance on Corrie saw her appear very briefly on a video call as part of Ken Barlow’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2019

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Eileen first appeared on Coronation Street way back in 1961 and became well known for her string of ill-fated romances in the shoes of Emily Bishop.

Her desire to stay out of the spotlight was so great that she never appeared at award ceremonies or on red carpets with her fellow cast members.

Eileen’s work was honoured back in 2010 when she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to drama. 

Her final appearance on Corrie saw her appear very briefly on a video call as part of Ken Barlow’s 80th birthday celebrations. 

While there have been rumours of a return to the cobbles since then, Oliver’s latest update suggests that it is unlikely.