Lorna Laidlaw
Biography
Lorna Laidlaw is best known to television viewers as Mrs Tembe (she has a Christian name, Winifred but would never allow her colleagues to use it), the strait-laced, straight-haired Botswanan born receptionist in daytime soap 'Doctors'. Lorna however is a native Brummie, born on February 1 1963 - unusually for a baby with teeth. Brought up in Ladywood, Birmingham she joined a local youth theatre at the age of 15 and went on to train as a social worker but decided it was a thankless job and turned to acting instead, spending several years with Birmingham Rep. She made her television debut in the 1990s but became a regular in children's shows 'Tikkabilla' and 'Grandpa in my Pocket in the 2000s before joining 'Doctors' in 2009 for one episode as a character called Gloria Dixon and from 2011 as the redoubtable Mrs Tembe for which role, in 2012, she was named best actress by the Royal Television Society Midland awards. Lorna has two children and - unlike Mrs Tembe - is blonde
Known For & Full Filmography6 Titles
Drama Series - 1960, 16 episodes • as Aggie Bailey
The residents of Coronation Street are ordinary, working-class people, and the show follows them through regular social and family interactions at home, in the workplace, and in their local pub, the Rovers Return Inn. Britain's longest-running soap.
Drama Series - 2000, 16 episodes • as Mrs. Tembe
Set in the fictional Midlands town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the city of Birmingham, this soap opera follows the staff and families of a doctor's surgery.
Drama Series - 2023, 16 episodes • as Suzie Carter
Former police detective Jack Grayling, pursuing his dream of becoming a cabaret singer on a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship, investigates a series of murders on board with the help of the ship's first officer, Kate Woods.
Drama Series - 2024, 16 episodes • as Herself - Presenter
Tikkabilla was a UK children's television programme, shown on BBC1, BBC2 and on the CBeebies channel. The programme aims to educate pre-school children in an entertaining manner. The title "Tikkabilla" comes from the Punjabi word meaning "Hopscotch", a popular children's game. It was an exceptionally well loved children's television show. Each programme is introduced by two adults and a small dragon puppet named Tamba, who resembles Spyro the Dragon in colouration. Tamba serves as the programme's naive child; the programme's educational content is introduced as the presenters explain things to Tamba. Whilst Tamba appears in every episode, a team of presenters take it in turns to pair-up in each show. These presenters include Justin Fletcher, Sarah-Jane Honeywell, Paul Ewing, Simon Davies, Lorna Laidlaw, Veejay Kaur, Toni Fruitin and Amit Sharma and Beverley Hills. Tamba is performed by puppeteers Sue Eves who created the voice for Tamba; Alison McGowan and Katherine Smee. Sue Eves has also written many scripts for the programme. Beverley Hills also writes for the programme as well as writing for the sister show, The Story Makers.
Movie - 2021, 2h 15m • as Granny Rose
A mixed race child grieves the recent loss of her father and, with the help of her gregarious imaginary friend, reclaims aspects of her cultural identity that had seemed to disappear with him.
Movie - 2020, 2h 15m • as Self
Featuring a whole host of Coronation Street stars past and present, this special explores the legacy of the world's longest-running soap opera.