Joan Heath (10th December 1912 - 17th July 2000) appeared in Coronation Street in December 1960 as May Hardman, mother of Christine Hardman and the first character to die in the programme. Just over six years later she made a reconnection with the programme when she appeared in The Happy Medium, an episode of the spin-off Turn out the Lights. She also appeared in Knight Errant Limited, Saki, The Odd Man, Z Cars, Emergency-Ward 10, The Villains, Dixon of Dock Green, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, A Family at War, Crown Court, Emmerdale and Ladykillers.