Memorable UK soap cameos: From Lily Savage to Larry Grayson

There’s been a few over the years…

With Emmerdale welcoming Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, in a guest appearance SoapWorld decided to take a look at some of our favourite serial cameo appearances over the years.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle featured in Emmerdale on Monday night (January 27th) amidst all the drama he dropped into The Hide in the village wearing a tweed jacket and wellies, as the Lancastrian rambler compliments Laurel on the strong cup of Yorkshire Tea which he’d ‘ordered’.

“Who knows, before too long, he might call ‘order’ in another place just as full of exciting drama?” – ITV Yorkshire

Back in May 2024, a huge supporter of local media production, Hoyle visited the show after previously marking the importance of regional television production noting both ITV soaps have been mentioned more than 320 times during Parliamentary debates and “are an important part of the fabric of British society and the economic contribution they bring to the North”.

His celebratory ’10 000th episode’ visit to the Dales in May last year saw him meet and greet with the ITV Yorkshire team who make the show also gave him the chance to ‘make an order’ in the HOP – however the General Election was then called, and ITV was unable to use the footage for legal reasons, until this week. With the magic of post-production Sir Lindsay was back in the HOP in ‘relevant time’ and making his order, for posterity.

Other famous faces to make a visit to the Yorkshire Dales village include RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, singers Marti Pellow, The Proclaimers and Katherine Jenkins and in sport Chris Kamara and Ian Botham featured. Telly wise newsreader Richard Whiteley, presenter Fern Britton, dancer Lionel Blair and presenter Phillip Schofield have all appeared, although the latter was edited out of the Classic Emmerdale repeat recently after he fell out with ITV.

The Vivienne on Emmerdale / ITV

EastEnders: Boris Johnson

Sticking with politics former PM Boris Johnson made an appearance in EastEnders during his time as Mayor of London. In 2009 Bojo popped into The Queen Victoria public house where he was greeted by Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor).

Peggy spent an unfruitful morning trying to track Boris, who was visiting Walford, down. Returning to her boozer having been unsuccessful in her attempts to meet the Mayor’s acquaintance, Peggy makes it clear he’ll feel the brunt of her short fuse if she ever sees him.

However, much to everyone’s amusement, when Boris Johnson unexpectedly walks into the Queen Vic Peggy is utterly charmed by him, not to mention a little flirtatious.

“EastEnders is a true London icon and I was delighted to highlight to its huge audience the part the mayoralty plays in the city’s rich tapestry. It was, of course, a tremendous honour to step inside that most venerable of London landmarks, the Queen Vic, and share a scene with another of the capital’s icons, the fabulous Barbara Windsor.” – Boris Johnson speaking at the time of his cameo

Other names to have screen time in Walford include DJ Nick Grimshaw and singer Robbie Williams.

Boris goes to Borehamwood / BBC

Brookside: Lily Savage

It was a monumental occasion when Barry Grant (Paul Usher) opened – in union with businessman Max Farnham (Stephen Pinder) – his Grants Restaurant on the shopping parade behind the infamous Brookside Close in 1994. While a number of star names were lined up to mark the grand opening – including Masterchef host Lloyd Grossman – it was Lily Savage – aka Paul O’Grady – who made a memorable appearance.

Lily arrives noting she didn’t mind turning up ‘at such short notice’ as there was nothing on the telly and the money would come in handy. Lily is surprised, almost starstruck to see Grossman at the restaurant while David Crosby (John Burgess) mistakes Lil for a real woman, much to his embarrassment. Lily observes his intrusion into her conversation is fine as ‘older men are always more grateful’.

Other cameos in Brookie include Crossroads’ Jane Rossington who featured as ‘Jill’ in a homage to her motel character, Breakfast Time and TV-am astrologer Russell Grant, singers The Nolans and presenter Michael Parkinson to name just a few.

Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage makes a visit to Brookside Close / Mersey TV

Crossroads: Larry Grayson

Comedian and presenter Larry was just one of many guest stars to walk into the Crossroads Motel, in fact it is likely it has the record for cameos in UK soap with other names including Bob Monkhouse, Ken Dodd, Duncan Goodhew, Miss Great Britain (1969) Wendy George, Joe Loss, Tony Britton and Dawn Addams to name just a few.

Larry appeared as himself in the saga staying at the motel while he was appearing at a theatre in Birmingham. His checkout however revealed he had had a far from pleasant stay, having ‘fallen over Amy Turtle’s (Ann George) bucket’ – she was a hapless cleaner – and then being disturbed during the night by the ‘sound of scratching in the walls’ to which Larry asked motel proprietor Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon) if she had ferrets in the building. His appearance proved so popular later in the same year, 1972, he returned at Christmas as Santa and again in 1975 as a chauffeur at Meg’s wedding to Hugh (John Bentley).

His first visit to the motel became so memorable it was recreated in the Russell T Davis drama ‘Nolly‘ on the life of Gordon with Noele portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter and Larry by Mark Gatiss. Unfortunately, ATV didn’t consider it historic at the time, and along with 100s of programmes wiped the episode.

Larry Grayson has a memorable stay at the Crossroads Motel / ATV

Coronation Street: Peter Kay

There are so many guest appearances with The Street to also choose from, but our favourite is comedian and actor Peter Kay who gave a memorable cobbles performance back in 2004. The Phoenix Nights comic appeared – with fake teeth and a wig – in a couple of amusing scenes as drayman Eric Gartside, who was looking for love.

Eric was a rather unlikely date for the Rovers Return landlady Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay).

Their first – and last – date was at a restaurant where things seemed to be going rather well, in a strange sort of way. But it wasn’t to last. When the pair decided to pop back to Eric’s house for a cup of tea romance went off the boil when his overbearing mother – resplendent in her dressing gown – decided to join the conversation. Shelley made her excuses, refusing his offer of another date, and departed into the night never to see Eric, his wig and huge fake teeth ever again.

Others to feature include Sir Cliff Richard who appeared in a Rovers pub scene having a pint, rockers Status Quo and Sir Ian McKellen had a short stint while Dynasty star Joan Collins featured in a spin-off special episode.

Peter Kay in Coronation Street / Granada TV

Emergency Ward 10: Noele Gordon

Just months before she would end up having an 18-year run in Crossroads Noele Gordon appeared as herself in an episode of the UK’s first medical serial, Emergency Ward 10. In the show the then-ATV presenter of programmes such as Lunch Box – the This Morning of its day – appeared at the Oxbridge Hospital, based in the fictional Oxbridge town on the outskirts of London, as herself to open the summer fayre.

The ‘have a go’ host was famous on ITV at the time for taking on challenges such as flying a plane, driving a steam train, diving and so forth, so it came as no surprise Noele got stuck in with the fun fair type offerings.

EW10 was host to many actors who went on to more famous roles including Doctor Who and Emmerdale regular Frazier Hines, film star Malcolm McDowell, sitcom regular Geoffrey Palmer, comedian Barry Cryer, Corrie regular Neville Buswell and Dynasty star Kate O’Mara.

Noele appears at a summer fayre in Emergency Ward 10 on 10th July 1964