CORONATION Street favourite Maggie Jones, has got a `cheeky grin' back on her face as she recovers from emergency surgery, her co-star Michael Le Vell has revealed.

The veteran star, who plays battle-axe Blanche Hunt, is said to have been taken off a ventilator which was helping her breathe.

And Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, said her sister had visited the Street set to reassure the cast.

The much-loved actress, who is 75, was rushed to Salford's Hope Hospital on Saturday for a major operation, but is now said to be on the mend.

Le Vell said: "The good news is her sister said she has got a cheeky grin back on her face.

"She told us Maggie has got all her naughtiness back.

Speedy recovery

"Things are looking up now and we are just hoping she makes a speedy recovery."

Le Vell said the cast is missing the star, who has been written out of forthcoming scenes.

It is understood the operation was for a pre-existing condition.

Le Vell added: "We just want her back on set, she is massively important to the show, but the main thing is that she gets better.

Fellow Corrie veteran Bill Tarmey, who plays Jack Duckworth, said his thoughts are with the actress.

He said: "My beautiful Maggie. She is a delight, she is wonderful and I am just hoping she will be ok.

"We just sit and laugh together and I need her to get better otherwise I will be sitting on my own."

Gray O'Brien, who plays Tony Gordon in the soap, revealed that the cast cheered when they heard that the star was getting better.

He said: "We are absolutely thrilled. There was a big cheer in the Green Room. Everyone was sitting at the end of the phone on tenterhooks. She was very poorly at the weekend but she has definitely made a breakthrough." David Neilson, who plays Roy Cropper, called Jones a `great fighter'. He said: "We love Maggie. She is a lovely actress but mostly a great woman. What is happening is in a way no surprise because she is tough in the best sense."

Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, said: "We love you, Maggie, and we just want you to get well really, really soon because she is the strength of Coronation Street and she is the best." A Street spokesman said: "We are really encouraged by her progress, she is showing great fight and resilience."