Margi Clarke

Margi Clarke (born 25 May 1954) is an English actress and radio and television presenter. She had a leading role in the film Letter to Brezhnev (1985), a low-budget film which had an international release. Later, Clarke played Jackie Dobbs in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1998–1999, 2008–2010). Early life and career Clarke was born and raised in Kirkby, Lancashire. Her career as a presenter began in 1978 on the late-night television magazine show What's On, broadcast only in the Granada region. She was known as Margox in the early 1980s when performing in punk bands. In 1983, Clarke appeared as Fran in two early episodes of the Liverpool-set Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, credited as Margi MacGregor. She featured in the low-budget film Letter to Brezhnev (1985), the screenplay being adapted by her brother from his own play. It concerns two working-class Liverpool young women who meet two Russian sailors; the other lead part was played by Alexandra Pigg. The film was made for around £50,000 (Clarke called this "the cocaine budget on Rambo"), and became an international hit. At the next Evening Standard British Film Awards, Clarke was awarded the prize for "Most Promising Newcomer". Margi had originated her role of Theresa in Letter to Brezhnev a few years earlier when she played the role in a modest run at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983.