Lorraine Cheshire
Lorraine Cheshire | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 August 1960 Wythenshawe, Manchester, England |
| Died | 19 December 2025 (aged 65) Manchester, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1994–2022 |
| Spouse |
John Dixon (m. 1979) |
Lorraine Cheshire (15 August 1960 – 19 December 2025) was an English actress, known for her roles as Joan Bell in Early Doors, Sue Benson in the Sky sitcom Trollied, Fleur Budgen in the BBC One school-based drama Waterloo Road and Lorraine Bird in the Channel 4 school-based drama series Ackley Bridge.[1]
Life and career
Cheshire was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester on 15 August 1960.[2] She began acting at the age of 35, after her husband was made redundant from the Army.[3] She attended the Arden Drama School in Manchester, and later joined the Manchester Actors Company.[3][4] She made her professional acting debut in two episodes of the BBC series Cranford, portraying the role of Jo Warren.[5] After that, she made appearances in series such as Clocking Off, Having It Off and Holby City.[6] In 2003, Cheshire was cast in her first main role, in the BBC series Early Doors. She portrayed the role of Joan Bell for two series.[7] From 2007 to 2012, she appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road in the recurring role of Fleur Budgen.[8] Then in 2008, Cheshire starred in the BBC Three series Massive as Lorraine Finnegan.[9]
Cheshire guest starred in a series 25 episode of Casualty in 2011 as Sandra Orr, the relative of a patient.[10] From 2011 to 2018, Cheshire starred in the Sky sitcom Trollied as customer service representative Sue Benson.[11] She appeared in all seven series, as well as the specials.[12] In 2013, she appeared in five episodes of the BBC soap opera Doctors. Between 2014 and 2016, Cheshire also appeared in the BBC series In the Club as Geraldine for 12 episodes.[3] The actress appeared in a second episode of Casualty in 2015, during the show's twenty-ninth series. In this appearance, she played patient Pam Poole opposite Paul Trussell as Derek Owen.[13][14] From 2017 to 2022, Cheshire portrayed the role of Lorraine Bird in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge.[15]
Cheshire died on 19 December 2025, at the age of 65. Her death was announced by her husband John Dixon on social media, whom she had been married to since 1979.[16]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Stanton Blues | Jo Warren | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Phoenix Nights | Aerobics Woman | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Clocking Off | Mad Beryl | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise | Hot Pot | Television film |
| 2002 | Having It Off | Pammy Rocket | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Harold Shipman: Doctor Death | Canteen Lady | Television film |
| 2002 | Mrs. Meitlemihir | Courtyard Woman | Short film |
| 2003–2004 | Early Doors | Joan | Main role; 12 episodes |
| 2004 | Fat Friends | Nurse | 1 episode |
| 2004 | No Angels | Press Officer | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Holby City | Pam Carr | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Down to Earth | Tricia Jenkins | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Goldplated | Margaret | 1 episode |
| 2006–2007 | Tittybangbang | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | The Afternoon Play | Patty | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Instinct | Judith | Television film |
| 2007 | Life on Mars | Big Bird | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Sound | Shay's Mum | Television film |
| 2007 | The Street | Second Woman | 1 episode |
| 2007–2012 | Waterloo Road | Fleur Budgen | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
| 2008 | Florence Nightingale | Watson | Television film |
| 2008 | Sunshine | Joan | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Massive | Lorraine | 6 episodes |
| 2009 | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Mum | Supporting role |
| 2009 | The Royal | Mrs. Hastings | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Chatroom | Yorkshire Housewife | Supporting role |
| 2010 | Poor Wee Me | Betty | Film |
| 2011 | In with the Flynns | Mrs. Barton | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Casualty | Pam Poole | 1 episode |
| 2011–2018 | Trollied | Sue | Main role; 63 episodes |
| 2013 | The Johnny and Inel Show | Vacuum Lady | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Doctors | Vanessa Harding | 5 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | In the Club | Geraldine | Main role; 12 episodes |
| 2015 | Casualty | Sandra Orr | 1 episode |
| 2016 | The Life of Rock with Brian Pern | Train Driver | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Moving On | Kim | 1 episode |
| 2017–2022 | Ackley Bridge | Lorraine Bird | Main role; 39 episodes |
| 2022 | Incompatible | Nurse | Short film |
| Sources: [17][18] | |||
References
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Lorraine Cheshire". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ Rooney, Brian (23 April 2021). "What a Beautiful World This Will Be". Now Then. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Spotlight On… Lorraine Cheshire". Entertainment Views. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Wythenshawe - Lorraine Cheshire". www.wythenshawe.btck.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ McWilliams, Helen. "Lorraine Cheshire ~ From Joan to Geraldine Via Sue!". Union Times. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Meads, Glenn (12 June 2018). "From Manchester to Ackley Bridge: meet the actor people mistake for a nurse". I Love Manchester (MCR). Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "BBC One - Waterloo Road, Series 7, episode 25". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "BBC Three - Massive, Recording the Single". BBC. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Writer: Paul Logue; Director: Richard Platt; Producer: Anne Edyvean (30 April 2011). "Momentum". Holby City. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ "Cameras roll on series 7 of Sky1's Trollied at Bristol's Bottle Yard Studios". DestinationBristol. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "We take a look at new Sky1HD comedy 'Trollied' starring Jane Horrocks and Mark Addy". TellyMix. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Cheshire, Lorraine [@chesloza] (14 August 2015). "Me and the lovely Paul Trussell on Casualty tomorrow" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 March 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Writers: Benedict Ayrton and Matthew Barry; Director: Julie Edwards; Producer: Gert Thomas (15 August 2015). "Knock Knock Who's There". Holby City. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ "School drama never dies – Ackley Bridge vs Waterloo Road". The Edge. 4 June 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Roberts, Jamie (19 December 2025). "Lorraine Cheshire dead: Early Doors and Waterloo Road star dies as heartbroken co-star pays tribute". The Mirror. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Lorraine Cheshire". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Lorraine Cheshire". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 December 2025.