Corrie actress Patti Clare – who plays nuttier than squirrel poo Mary Taylor, stalker of Norris Cole – has said that her character is “oddly uninhibited.”

In an interview with the Radio Times about her Street character, Patti also lavished praise on Malcolm Hebden, who of course plays Norris, for his “comic abilities”.

She said of Mary, “She gets things wrong. She finds it difficult to express emotion, she’s socially awkward and desperately lonely.

“She really does love Norris, though. There’s a lot of passive aggression there…

“Perhaps from looking after what I imagine was a domineering mother.

“I don’t think she’d harm anyone, but you never know.”

Patti added, “Working with Malcolm brought Mary’s comedy to the fore because he’s such an accomplished comic actor.

“In her heart of hearts, I think she knows he will never love her.

“But she sails on anyway, unwilling to give up on romance.

“For someone who’s so contained, she’s oddly uninhibited.”