Coronation Street legend Malcolm Hebden, who played Norris Cole, has stayed largely out of the spotlight since retiring from the soap in 2021
Coronation Street’s Malcolm Hebden, best known for his role as Norris Cole, is a true soap legend – but what has the actor been doing since leaving the show?
Malcolm first appeared on the ITV soap in 1994, quickly becoming a fan favourite as Weatherfield’s resident gossip. Over the years, Norris featured in more than 1,600 episodes, cementing his place in Coronation Street history.
After 27 years on the cobbles, Malcolm announced his retirement from acting in January 2021, a decision that followed a heart attack in 2017.
Viewers will remember that Norris was written out of the show when the character moved into a retirement home, marking the end of an era for long-time fans. But what has Malcolm been up to in the five years since his final appearance on the soap?
Malcolm Hebden is best known for playing Norris Cole on Coronation Street, but his history with the soap began long before that. Between 1974 and 1975, he appeared as Carlos, the Spanish love interest of Mavis Riley, portrayed by Thelma Barlow, according to the Mirror.
Almost 20 years later, Malcolm returned to Weatherfield in 1994 to take on the role that would define his career. His portrayal of Norris earned him the Funniest Character award at the Inside Soap Awards in 2001 and 2002. Although he initially left the show three years later, he made a comeback in 1999, becoming a permanent fixture on the cobbles.
Some of Norris’s most memorable storylines included his on-off romance with Mary Taylor (Patti Clare), his long-running rivalry with Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire), and his endless habit of interfering in other residents’ business.
In late 2017, Malcolm suffered a life-threatening heart attack, which led him to step away from the soap. He briefly returned in March 2019, but his final on-screen appearance came in June 2020. The character of Norris later died from a stroke off-screen, with his death being confirmed to viewers the following year.
In 2017, Malcolm suffered a life-threatening heart attack and later spoke candidly about the terrifying ordeal to the Blackpool Gazette.
He explained that he had initially visited his GP for what he believed was a chest infection. After checking his heart, the doctor later called him to say an emergency ambulance was on its way to take him to Royal Blackburn Hospital, the nearest hospital to his home in Ribble Valley.
Recalling the incident, Malcolm said: “My doctor told me I had suffered at least one heart attack. I was taken to Blackburn Hospital by emergency ambulance and stayed there overnight.”
He explained that while in hospital he collapsed and was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he underwent what his surgeon, Mr Zacharias, described as a “ground-breaking” operation. The heart attack had torn a hole in his heart, and doctors took a major risk in operating to repair the damage.
During the procedure, surgeons effectively “wallpapered” his heart, using bovine tissue to mend the damage caused by the silent cardiac event.
Malcolm was later transferred back to Royal Blackburn Hospital while still unconscious. He regained consciousness sometime in January and was eventually discharged in late February, after spending almost three months in hospital.
Malcolm’s return to the cobbles
In January 2021, Malcolm, who was 81 at the time, announced his retirement from acting. Speaking later to The Sun, he said: “I loved playing Norris and was delighted to return briefly after my operation. Deciding to retire took a great deal of courage.”
Then, in October 2023, Malcolm made a rare on-screen appearance, featuring in the documentary special Barbara Knox at 90, which celebrated Barbara Knox’s milestone birthday.
More recently, Malcolm returned to the Coronation Street set to support his former co-star Sam Aston, who plays Chesney Brown, during his appearance on Dancing on Ice in 2025.
The pair shared fond memories of their early days on the soap, both agreeing that they “remember it well.” Sam recalled advice Malcolm had given him, saying: “One thing I remember you telling me was to know your lines and don’t be late – two things I’ve always tried to stick to.”
Malcolm affectionately described Sam as his surrogate grandson, while Sam said he has “wonderful memories” of growing up on the long-running soap.
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