Tributes have poured in following the death of veteran Coronation Street actress Eileen Mayers, who became widely recognised for her portrayal of factory worker Sheila Birtles in the long-running ITV soap opera. She was 94.
Mayers, whose appearances on the popular drama spanned several years between 1961 and 1974, died on June 27, 2026, according to a death notice published in Equity magazine.
The notice read: “Eileen (née Mayers) died on 27th June 2026 aged 94.”
It also paid tribute to her lengthy acting career, which began when she was just 15 at the Oldham Repertory Theatre.
Remembering her time on Coronation Street, the notice added: “Sheila Birtles in Coronation Street between 1960-63; she is now ‘resting’ for ever.”
Controversial storyline made headlines
Mayers is perhaps best remembered for her involvement in one of Coronation Street’s most controversial storylines of the 1960s, which centred on Sheila Birtles’ struggle with depression and an attempted suicide plot that was changed before it aired.
In the original storyline, Sheila’s mental health deteriorated after her romantic interest, Neil Crossley, played by Geoffrey Matthews, rejected her. The script initially called for the character to take her own life by overdosing on pills.
However, details of the planned storyline were leaked ahead of transmission, prompting a strong reaction from viewers. Following the public outcry, programme bosses decided against showing the suicide as originally intended.
Instead, the episode ended with Sheila taking pills before the screen faded to black, leaving the outcome ambiguous.
Sheila eventually left Weatherfield in 1963, but Mayers returned to the soap for further appearances in 1966, 1969 and 1974.
Actress reflected on the media attention
The originally planned sequence was eventually shown in ITV’s 2011 documentary The Corrie Years, giving viewers an opportunity to see how the controversial storyline had initially been conceived.
Mayers also recalled the intense media attention surrounding the decision, explaining how the story became front-page news.
Speaking in the documentary, she said: “I came out of Granada having finished and was greeted with a wall of journalists and I couldn’t believe it.”
Reflecting on the decision to change the storyline, she admitted that she was disappointed the original scene never made it to television.
“It is disappointing when you think, ‘Oh, that’s it, that’s good’, and then it doesn’t get shown but that’s the way it is,” she explained.
Mayers added that an actress friend would often remind her that she had “been front page news”, although she would have preferred the original episode to be broadcast.
Coronation Street fans pay tribute
News of Mayers’ death prompted an outpouring of sadness from Coronation Street viewers on social media, with fans remembering her contribution to the iconic television series.
One viewer paid tribute on X, writing: “Sad to read that actress Eileen Mayers died in June aged 94.”
The post went on to highlight her best-known role as Sheila Birtles, noting her early appearances in the soap and her subsequent returns in 1966, 1969 and 1974.
The viewer concluded the heartfelt message with a simple tribute: “RIP Eileen.”
Mayers leaves behind a legacy that includes a memorable chapter in Coronation Street history, with her character’s controversial storyline remaining a notable moment in the programme’s early years.