Pearl Hackney, (28th October, 1916 - 18th September, 2009) was a regular face on television, often in comedic roles. Born in Burton-on-Trent but brought up in Liverpool, Hackney had been a Windmill girl in her youth after showing an early talent for ballet dancing, and was married to comic Eric Barker in 1936. She became best known for a series of radio comedy shows with her husband such as Merry-Go-Round and Waterlogged Spa. She moved into television with Barker in 1950 with The Eric Barker Half Hour and after he suffered a stroke appeared in sitcoms without him such as Oh, Father!. Straight acting roles were provided in series such as Z Cars, Minder and Bergerac but continued with comedy with an appearance in Are You Being Served? . She first appeared in Coronation Street in 1973 as Ethe