Lynne Perrie During the 1950s and 1960s , Perrie performed her variety act in clubs across the country , and also toured in France , Germany , South Africa and the United States , appearing on the same bill as " Sacha Distel " , " The Rolling Stones " , and , for fifteen concerts , The Beatles , who called her “ girlie ” . In 1969 she moved into the acting field after Ken Loach cast her as the feisty , neglectful mother in his award - winning film " Kes . " Roles in television followed in the 1970s , notably as Diana Dors ' arch enemy Mrs . Petty in the Yorkshire Television comedy series " Queenie ' s Castle . " In 1974 , she starred as a shop steward in the BBC " Play for Today " production " Leeds United " , which also featured Elizabeth Dawn in the cast , who would later play Vera Duckworth . She was also seen as herself , singing on such shows as " Stars and Garters " and " The Good Old Days " . Perrie went on to have a long stint in " Coronation Street " as Ivy Brennan , a role which Lynne portrayed for twenty - three years . Her first appearance was in June 1971 . Originally a minor role , Perrie was able to take on other work until Ivy became a regular character in 1978 , including cabaret dates and guest appearances in TV drama series such as " Crown Court " and " Follyfoot " . Perrie was written out of the " Street " in 1994 , and Ivy died off screen the following year . The press speculated that the reason behind her departure was because of the unflattering lip implants that she had recently had during unofficial leave from the programme . Perrie however always insisted that it was because the then producer had decided that the character had simply ran its course . With Ivy out of her life , Perrie used this opportunity to write a candid autobiography , " Secrets of the Street " , which was subtitled " The Book They Could Not Ban " after Granada Television tried to do so . She also made a return to the stage , and appeared on a variety of chat shows , notably on Channel 4 ' s " The Word " where she sang " I Will Survive . " Another acting opportunity came when we played the wicked fairy Poison Ivy in Mike Reid ' s adult pantomime " Pussy in Boots , " which was subsequently released on video . In 1995 , she starred in her own comedy film , " Lynne Perrie ' s Alternative Workout " , which consisted of her fondling toned young men . In 1996 , she was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary : " The Ghost of Ivy Tilsley " , part of a series of films exploring the dark side of fame . Reduced to the status of a celebrity bingo caller , Perrie said : " Fame is like a drug . The more you get , the more you want . " Shortly after , she was reconciled with her husband Derrick Barksby . Unknown to the public , she and Barksby had lived away from each other after Perrie landed the role of Ivy . Her career gradually began to pick up again when she performed in a televised concert in San Pedro , became in demand as an after - dinner speaker , and on Christmas Day 1996 she was seen in a TV commercial . In 1997 , she was reunited with Christopher Quinten , who played her " Street " son Brian . when they guested on the popular BBC Radio 4 programme " Harry Hill ' s Fruit Corner " . Throughout her time on " Coronation Street " and after , Perrie battled a well publicised drink problem and was once addicted to gambling . She also started to suffer from depression after learning that her son was HIV positive . Speaking in 1998 , Perrie told a journalist : " Any mother will understand the pain but for me it was much worse . He was my only child and we went through this under the spotlight of publicity . " Looking back on her departure from " Coronation Street " , she said : " I ' ve been haunted by Ivy since I left . After she died they brought her back as a ghost . " I didn ' t want to go out because people kept stopping me and talking to me as Ivy . I became a prisoner in my own home . I was going to bed and swallowing sleeping tablets . I was going crazy . " She slowly became to rebuild her life , but her health remained poor , reportedly at its worst in 2001 . However , two years later she claimed it had improved and that she planned a comeback but in keeping with what friends thought of as her manic depressive character , it never happened . Lynne died on 24th March 2006 at the age of 74 , following a stroke . Tributes were paid on television and in the newspapers by former co - stars , Johnny Briggs , who as factory boss Mike Baldwin clashed with Ivy in " Coronation Street " on screen , said : " She was my daughter ' s godmother and one of the most generous people I ever met . She would give a tramp £10 rather than walk past in the street . " Elizabeth Dawn who played Vera Duckworth said : " I am terribly saddened to hear the news . She was always full of life and great fun to work with . " William Roache who plays Ken Barlow said : " You always knew when Lynne was in the room as the sound of her laughter was never far away . "