Judith Barker

Judith Barker (born 22 June 1943) is an English actress, best known for her role as the upwardly mobile homewrecker Janet Reid in Coronation Street, which she played from 1969 to 1977.

Since her departure from Coronation Street, Barker has mostly been a character actress in television dramas, such as the 1984 Channel 4 series Scully, where she played the teacher Mrs Heath. An exception is her role as Audrey Manners in Brookside during 1995. She appeared in the first series of Waterloo Road as Estelle Cooper, and had a small role in the film Miss Potter. It was reported that she declined the premiere for the movie starring Renee Zellweger to teach drama at her local school, Saddleworth Drama Centre in Oldham. Since Judith’s departure from Coronation Street her husband, daughter-in-law and grandson have also appeared in the show.

Barker reappeared in Waterloo Road in series 10, playing a different character, Grace Drummond.

In 2012, she appeared in the second series of Scott & Bailey as Dorothy Parsons, the mother of Lesley Sharp's character DC Janet Scott. From 2019 to 2020, she appeared as Agatha Finn in Emmerdale. Barker also runs her own drama classes at Springhead Congregational Church, alongside choreographer & Agent, Adele Parry. Saddleworth Drama Centre. Recent achievements have seen her classes performing at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1965 Coronation Street Babs Minor role 1967 Turn Out the Lights Ann Sankey 1 episode 1968 Crossroads Constance Dory 5 episodes 1969, 1971, 1973–1975, 1977 Coronation Street Janet Reid Regular role; 71 episodes 1983–1984 Brookside Eileen Salter Minor role 1984 Scully Mrs Heath Main role; 5 episodes 1985–1986 The Practice Pauline Kent Series regular; 46 episodes 1995 Brookside Audrey Manners Main role 2003 Hollyoaks Lillian Hunter 4 episodes 2006 Waterloo Road Estelle Cooper 8 episodes Miss Potter Hilda Film 2010 Shameless Florence 1 episode 2012–2016 Scott & Bailey Dorothy Parsons Recurring role; 19 episodes 2014 Birds of a Feather Sadie 1 episode Waterloo Road Grace Drummond 4 episodes 2016 Rovers Francis All 6 episodes 2017 Peter Kay's Car Share Lady on Bus 1 episode 2019–2020 Emmerdale Agatha Finn Recurring role; 16 episodes 2019 Warren Sheila 3 episodes 2022 Documentary Now! Episode: Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport 2023-2025 The Power of Parker Betty 6 episodes