In honour of some of the best female soap characters of all time: Who do you think are the best soap matriarchs past and present from each soap?

Pauline Fowler for me.

Pat Harris-Beale-Wicks-Butcher-Evans-Styles

Yes, Pauline I would say. Probably Pat too from EE and Dot.

Lou Beale.

I never liked Pat at all. She was far too camp and over the top to be taken seriously. At least both Lou and Pauline seemed like a actual people rather than some ridiculous caricature that spouts words of wisdom.

Definitely Pauline Fowler for EE for me.

Current matriarchs could be Shirley Carter / Sharon Mitchell / Kathy Beale (if the characters become more faaaaaamily driven)
I'd also say Gail Platt in Corrie, Rita would have been a great matriarch if she had a family.

Can't believe nobody has said Peggy!

Helen Daniels
Madge Bishop
Pippa Fletcher/Ross
Lou Beale
Annie Sugden
Pat Butcher
Pauline Fowler
Blanche Hunt - Queen of one liners.

Out of the present casts
Susan Kennedy
Irene Roberts
Dot Branning
Diane Sugden
Gail Platt or whatever she is calling herself now.