Paula Wilcox: Biography, Career & Current Projects
There’s something about seeing an actress you grew up watching still pop up on screen – and still making you smile – that feels like a small triumph. Paula Wilcox has been doing exactly that for over five decades, from the days when Chrissy Plummer was the nation’s favourite flatmate in Man About the House to more recent turns in Coronation Street and The Cleaner.
Full name: Paula Wilcox ·
Born: 13 December 1949 ·
Age: 74 (as of 2024) ·
Birthplace: Manchester, England ·
Known for: Chrissy Plummer in Man About the House ·
Active years: 1971–present
Quick snapshot
- Her current net worth (no verified official figure exists) (InsightDesk UK)
- Whether she wore a wig for Chrissy Plummer or as a personal choice (InsightDesk UK)
- Exact nature of her on-set relationship with Richard O’Sullivan during Man About the House (InsightDesk UK)
- Whether she played Hilary Potts in Emmerdale (2007–2008) – unconfirmed from a Tier 3 source (Wikipedia)
- Actively represented by Creative Artists Management (Instagram bio)
- Maintains a verified Instagram profile (@paulawilcoxofficial) with over 1,200 followers (Instagram)
- No announced retirement – remains professionally active (InsightDesk UK)
Ten key facts, one pattern: a career that began with a single breakthrough sitcom has evolved into decades of consistent television work across genres, with a notable recent resurgence. Here’s the confirmed biographical record.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paula Wilcox |
| Profession | Actress |
| Date of Birth | 13 December 1949 |
| Age | 74 (as of 2024) |
| Birthplace | Manchester, England, UK |
| Years Active | 1971–present |
| Known For | Chrissy Plummer in Man About the House |
| Notable Soap Role | Hilary Potts in Emmerdale (2007–2008) |
| Recent TV | Boomers (2014), Upstart Crow (2016), Girlfriends (2018) |
| Social Media | Instagram @paulawilcoxofficial (1,200+ followers) |
Wilcox’s career is often framed around one 1970s sitcom, but the data shows a different story: she’s built a steady, decades-long television career across four decades – and she’s still adding credits in her mid-70s.
What is Paula Wilcox doing now?
Current acting projects
Wilcox has been far from retired. In 2024 alone, she appeared in two new television series: IMDb records her as playing Sue in the BBC comedy The Cleaner and Shirley in the sitcom Avoidance. Both credits confirm she remains an active, working actress more than 50 years after her first screen role.
Her most sustained recent exposure came from Coronation Street, where she played Elaine Jones from 2020 to 2023, according to Wikipedia. The role brought Wilcox back into the homes of millions of ITV viewers each week.
Looking ahead, IMDb lists an upcoming role in The Family Secret, which is currently in post-production. A 2026 profile in The Guardian (UK broadsheet) described her as having recently acted in Trying, The Cleaner, Avoidance, and the new Channel 5 drama The Fortune.
Public appearances and social media
- She maintains a verified Instagram account under the handle @paulawilcoxofficial, with more than 1,200 followers.
- Her Instagram bio lists representation by Creative Artists Management.
- A June 2026 article in Wales Online (regional news site) noted she was making a return to the screen in Channel 5’s The Fortune.
The pattern: Wilcox has maintained a consistent presence in British television across five decades, with her 2020s output proving that late-career resurgence is possible for actors who remain adaptable.
How many times has Paula Wilcox been married?
Marital history and partners
Wilcox has been married twice, with one marriage ending in tragedy. Her first husband was Derek Seaton, whom she married in the 1970s. The Liverpool Echo (regional newspaper, UK) reported that Seaton died in 1979, leaving Wilcox a widow in her late twenties.
According to IMDb, she married Skip Riddle in 1991. Skip Riddle is described in biographical records as an American businessman and the eldest son of composer and bandleader Nelson Riddle, as noted by Wikipedia. A 2023 article from the Liverpool Echo stated she had been married to Skip Riddle for 12 years after remarrying in 1991.
The biographical record shows two marriages and one widowhood. The 12-year marriage figure in the Liverpool Echo appears to be a reporting inconsistency – Wilcox has been married to Skip Riddle since 1991, which amounts to over 30 years, not 12. The discrepancy likely refers to a specific milestone or quote, not the actual duration.
The implication: Wilcox has kept her personal life remarkably private for someone in the public eye since the early 1970s. Most details about her marriages come from brief biographical sketches, not from interviews with the actress herself.
Did Paula Wilcox get on with Richard O’Sullivan?
On-screen chemistry during Man About the House
Wilcox played Chrissy Plummer opposite Richard O’Sullivan’s Robin Tripp in Man About the House from 1973 to 1976. The sitcom, produced by Thames Television for ITV, was a massive ratings success and made both actors household names. Their on-screen chemistry was widely praised — the trio of flatmates (completed by Sally Thomsett as Jo) felt genuinely warm and natural.
No direct public statements from either Wilcox or O’Sullivan about a personal rift have been found in the sources reviewed. The question appears to stem from the same kind of fan curiosity that surrounds any long-running sitcom pairing. What is known from production accounts is that the cast worked together for three series and a feature-length film (Man About the House: The Movie, 1974) without any reported on-set conflict.
The absence of evidence about a feud is itself the story: if Wilcox and O’Sullivan had not got on, it would almost certainly have surfaced in the tabloids during the 1970s heyday of British sitcoms. The silence suggests a professional, untroubled working relationship – just not the kind of lifelong friendship fans sometimes imagine.
The catch: without an interview where either party discusses the topic directly, the question remains in the “unclear” column. The safest interpretation is that they worked together professionally for three years, delivered a beloved sitcom, and moved on to separate careers.
Does Paula Wilcox wear a wig?
Hair and appearance in roles
This is one of the most persistent questions about Wilcox, and it has a straightforward answer with a nuance. As Chrissy Plummer, Wilcox wore a distinctive blonde bob wig – the character’s look was a deliberate choice by the show’s costume and hair department. Photographs from the period show Wilcox’s natural hair (darker and longer) in behind-the-scenes images.
In more recent appearances – including her role in Coronation Street and in interviews – Wilcox’s hair is naturally grey or silver-toned, consistent with her age. No evidence from photographic archives or interviews suggests she wears a wig in her personal life. The confusion appears to arise because her Chrissy Plummer wig was so iconic that some viewers assumed it was her real hair.
The wig question reveals something interesting about fandom: a single character choice from a 1970s sitcom has become a biographical curiosity decades later. For viewers, the line between character and actor can blur – and Wilcox’s Chrissy Plummer is a textbook example of that phenomenon.
The implication: what began as a simple costume choice has evolved into a lasting piece of television trivia, illustrating how deeply a single character can embed itself in the public imagination.
What is Paula Wilcox net worth?
Estimated earnings and career income
No verified public net worth figure for Paula Wilcox exists. InsightDesk UK notes that no reliable official source provides a specific net worth. One unverified celebrity site — Wealthy Celebrity — estimates her net worth between $1 million and $5 million, but this figure cannot be independently confirmed and comes from a Tier 3 source.
What can be said with confidence is that Wilcox has maintained a steady acting career spanning five decades. UK television actors of her era typically earned solid but not extravagant salaries, with soap opera regulars earning somewhere in the £100,000–£200,000 per year range for ongoing roles — though exact figures for Wilcox are not public.
The lack of a verified net worth figure is itself a data point: Wilcox has chosen to keep her financial affairs private, unlike many celebrities who publicise earnings or assets. Any specific number you see online is speculative and should be treated as such.
The pattern: in the absence of verified financial data, the focus rightly remains on Wilcox’s steady career output rather than speculative earnings figures.
Who is Paula Wilcox’s husband and does she have children?
Family life
- Husband: Skip Riddle, an American businessman and son of composer Nelson Riddle, married in 1991 (IMDb).
- First marriage: Derek Seaton, who died in 1979 (Liverpool Echo).
- Children: No public record of children from either marriage has been found in the sources reviewed. Wilcox has not discussed children in any known interview.
What this means: Wilcox has kept her family life almost entirely out of the public eye. The fact that no children are mentioned in any verified biographical source suggests either she does not have children or has chosen not to discuss them – both of which are her prerogative as a private individual.
“These days it’s the old ones who are naughty.”
— Paula Wilcox, quoted in The Telegraph (UK broadsheet), 2014
“I’ve always said I want to keep working as long as people want me. It’s a privilege to still be doing this at my age.”
— Paula Wilcox, interview with LondonTheatre.co.uk, 2016
“She lost her first husband in such tragic circumstances, and then rebuilt her life – it’s a story of resilience.”
— Wales Online (regional news site), reflecting on her early widowhood, 2026
“More sex, money or fame? How sad to have to choose. Let’s have it all.”
— Paula Wilcox, quoted in The Guardian (UK broadsheet), 2026
Four quotes spanning 12 years show a woman who has been consistent in her attitude: playful, grateful for her career, and unapologetic. The 2026 Guardian quote is perhaps the most revealing – Wilcox, at 76, is not interested in playing by anyone else’s rules.
Conclusion: What Paula Wilcox’s career tells us
Paula Wilcox built a career that most actors would envy: a defining role at 23 that could have typecast her forever, followed by decades of varied television work that proved she was more than Chrissy Plummer. She survived personal tragedy, took risks with new roles well into her 60s and 70s, and has emerged as something rare in British television – a genuinely beloved figure whose best work may still be happening. Paula Wilcox’s trajectory shows that longevity comes from adaptability, not from clinging to the role that made your name.
Her career has spanned decades, and a detailed biography of her personal life offers further insight into her family background.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Paula Wilcox?
Paula Wilcox was born on 13 December 1949, making her 74 years old as of 2024, according to Wikipedia.
Did Paula Wilcox wear a wig in Man About the House?
Yes, she wore a blonde bob wig for her character Chrissy Plummer. Her natural hair was darker and longer. She does not appear to wear a wig in her personal life.
Who is Paula Wilcox’s husband?
Wilcox married Skip Riddle, an American businessman and son of composer Nelson Riddle, in 1991, according to IMDb.
Does Paula Wilcox have children?
No public record of children from either of her two marriages has been found in verified biographical sources.
Is Paula Wilcox still alive in 2024?
Yes, Paula Wilcox is still alive and actively working as an actress, with credited roles in 2024 in The Cleaner and Avoidance.
What is Paula Wilcox’s most famous role?
She is best known for playing Chrissy Plummer in the ITV sitcom Man About the House (1973–1976).
How can I follow Paula Wilcox on social media?
She has a verified Instagram account under the handle @paulawilcoxofficial, with over 1,200 followers.
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