Coronation Street fans and stars are in mourning today after the death, at age 60, of 'national icon' Anne Kirkbride, who played the long-suffering Deirdre Barlow (nee Hunt) in the world's longest-running TV soap since 1972.
Her death yesterday has led to an outpouring of grief from thousands who have 'grown up' with her character Deirdre Barlow and 'can't imagine' the soap without her.
Filming for the soap - which is set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, based on the city of Salford, near Manchester - was cancelled this morning because the cast is heartbroken.
The actress was one of the nation's best-loved and longest-serving television stars, starting on the Street 43 years ago.
She died yesterday and is believed to have suffered breast cancer which spread to her brain.
ITV has cancelled filming today as a mark of respect and because the soap's stars and production team are in mourning.
A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The team came into work but were immediately stood down because of Anne's death’, adding it was not clear when filming will begin again.
Flowers and cards have been left outside ITV's studios at Salford Quays today.
One note said: 'RIP Derdrie, You will be sadly missed. You have been a big part of our lives. Good night and God bless. Mr and Mrs Johnson'
A second sympathy card read: 'in deepest sympathy RIP Deirdre, our thoughts and prayers are with all the cast at this difficult time. The Baker family, Salford.'
Off-screen, Anne Kirkbride lived a happy life. But, during her 43-year stay on Corrie, her on-screen character Deirdre Barlow went through rather more than her fair share of ups and downs. She was married four times and had 13 lovers.
In 1981, more than 24 million viewers watched Deirdre marry Ken Barlow (played by William Roache, who has been in Coronation Street since the very first episode in 1960). The ceremony generated higher ratings for ITV than the wedding of Prince of Wales to Princess Diana in the same year.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name.
Despite the story being entirely fictional, she received the support of the then Prime Minister Tony Blair who intervened - with a touch of irony - after she was jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud, despite Jon walking free. Thousands of people around the country even got involved in a "Free The Weatherfield One" campaign.
William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken Barlow, said of her death: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years.
'She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama.
'We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed.'
Fellow Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn, 75, told the Mirror: 'It's like the heart of the show has been ripped out because she was so well loved by the cast and crew and by the millions of viewers who watched it.
'She was so lovely and I feel so sad. I'm so shocked because she had previously beaten illness and she showed such courage and spirit.'
'You have been a big part of our lives': Millions pay tribute to Coronation Street favourite Anne Kirkbride, 60, and 'too sad' cast cancel filming after star who played Deirdre for 43 years dies
'Heartbroken and deeply saddened' cast and crew of Corrie pay tribute
After her death thousands of fans give tributes and lay flowers and cards
ITV cancels filming of Coronation Street today as mark of respect for star
Anne Kirkbride was in soap for 43 years and appeared in 1,439 episodes
Died in hospital in Manchester and is survived by her husband David
Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, calls her 'a loving and vibrant person'
Liz Dawn – who played Vera Duckworth for 34 years - said 'the heart of the show has been ripped out'
By Emily Kent Smith and Harriet Sime for the Daily Mail and Colette Fahy and Steph Cockroft and Mark Duell and Martin Robinson for MailOnline
19 January 2015
Daily Mail
Miss Kirkbride, pictured in 2012, was previously diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1993
Coronation Street fans and stars today said goodbye to 'national icon' Anne Kirkbride who has died at the age of 60.
Her death yesterday has led to an outpouring of grief from thousands who have 'grown up' with her character Deirdre Barlow and 'can't imagine' the soap without her.
Filming for the soap was cancelled this morning because the cast is heartbroken.
The actress was one of the nation's best-loved and longest-serving television stars, starting on the Street 43 years ago.
She died yesterday and is believed to have suffered breast cancer which spread to her brain.
ITV has cancelled filming today as a mark of respect and because the soap's stars and production team are in mourning.
A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The team came into work but were immediately stood down because of Anne's death’, adding it was not clear when filming will begin again.
Flowers and cards have been left outside ITV's studios at Salford Quays today.
One note said: 'RIP Derdrie, You will be sadly missed. You have been a big part of our lives. Good night and God bless. Mr and Mrs Johnson'
A second sympathy card read: 'in deepest sympathy RIP Deirdre, our thoughts and prayers are with all the cast at this difficult time. The Baker family, Salford.'
A tweet by British Super Middleweight boxing champion Paul Smith Jr has gone viral after it captured the mood among fans.
He wrote: 'A national icon, a face (and voice) soap watchers grew up with. God bless her x'.
Fellow actors lined up to pay tribute to the 'loving and vibrant' actress who appeared in 1,439 episodes of the soap.
Veteran Liz Dawn – who played Vera Duckworth in the soap for 34 years - said 'the heart of the show has been ripped out.'
On-screen husband Bill Roache, who worked with her for 40 years as Ken Barlow, said she was 'an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing'.
Jennie McAlpine, who plays the soap's Fiz Stape, said: 'What a mark to make. So many people truly loved Deirdre Barlow'.
It was revealed in September that Miss Kirkbride was to take an extended break from the soap.
The star was expected to be absent for three months and was due to make a return this month.
On-screen couple: Coronation Street actors William Roache, who played Ken Barlow, with Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow, in February 2010. Roache said she was 'such a loving and vibrant person'
Anne Kirkbride was famous for her large spectacles and her husky voice – a result of her own chain smoking. She is pictured in 1973 (left) and behind bars after being jailed for fraud in the soap in 1998 (right)
Royal visit: The Duchess of Cornwall meets actors Beverley Callard (left), Anne Kirkbride (second right) and Ryan Thomas (right), at the Rovers Return during a trip to the set of Coronation Street in Manchester in 2010, the year the soap celebrated its 50th birthday
Moving: Shortly after her death flowers and cards began to pile up outside ITV's studios in Manchester where Coronation Street is filmed
Upset: This tweet by boxing champion Paul Smith Jnr has gone viral after it summed up the mood among fan
Her death yesterday has led to an outpouring of grief from thousands who have 'grown up' with her character Deirdre Barlow and 'can't imagine' the soap without her.
Filming for the soap - which is set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, based on the city of Salford, near Manchester - was cancelled this morning because the cast is heartbroken.
The actress was one of the nation's best-loved and longest-serving television stars, starting on the Street 43 years ago.
She died yesterday and is believed to have suffered breast cancer which spread to her brain.
ITV has cancelled filming today as a mark of respect and because the soap's stars and production team are in mourning.
A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The team came into work but were immediately stood down because of Anne's death’, adding it was not clear when filming will begin again.
Flowers and cards have been left outside ITV's studios at Salford Quays today.
One note said: 'RIP Derdrie, You will be sadly missed. You have been a big part of our lives. Good night and God bless. Mr and Mrs Johnson'
A second sympathy card read: 'in deepest sympathy RIP Deirdre, our thoughts and prayers are with all the cast at this difficult time. The Baker family, Salford.'
Off-screen, Anne Kirkbride lived a happy life. But, during her 43-year stay on Corrie, her on-screen character Deirdre Barlow went through rather more than her fair share of ups and downs. She was married four times and had 13 lovers.
In 1981, more than 24 million viewers watched Deirdre marry Ken Barlow (played by William Roache, who has been in Coronation Street since the very first episode in 1960). The ceremony generated higher ratings for ITV than the wedding of Prince of Wales to Princess Diana in the same year.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name.
Despite the story being entirely fictional, she received the support of the then Prime Minister Tony Blair who intervened - with a touch of irony - after she was jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud, despite Jon walking free. Thousands of people around the country even got involved in a "Free The Weatherfield One" campaign.
William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken Barlow, said of her death: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years.
'She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama.
'We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed.'
Fellow Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn, 75, told the Mirror: 'It's like the heart of the show has been ripped out because she was so well loved by the cast and crew and by the millions of viewers who watched it.
'She was so lovely and I feel so sad. I'm so shocked because she had previously beaten illness and she showed such courage and spirit.'
'You have been a big part of our lives': Millions pay tribute to Coronation Street favourite Anne Kirkbride, 60, and 'too sad' cast cancel filming after star who played Deirdre for 43 years dies
'Heartbroken and deeply saddened' cast and crew of Corrie pay tribute
After her death thousands of fans give tributes and lay flowers and cards
ITV cancels filming of Coronation Street today as mark of respect for star
Anne Kirkbride was in soap for 43 years and appeared in 1,439 episodes
Died in hospital in Manchester and is survived by her husband David
Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, calls her 'a loving and vibrant person'
Liz Dawn – who played Vera Duckworth for 34 years - said 'the heart of the show has been ripped out'
By Emily Kent Smith and Harriet Sime for the Daily Mail and Colette Fahy and Steph Cockroft and Mark Duell and Martin Robinson for MailOnline
19 January 2015
Daily Mail
Miss Kirkbride, pictured in 2012, was previously diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1993
Coronation Street fans and stars today said goodbye to 'national icon' Anne Kirkbride who has died at the age of 60.
Her death yesterday has led to an outpouring of grief from thousands who have 'grown up' with her character Deirdre Barlow and 'can't imagine' the soap without her.
Filming for the soap was cancelled this morning because the cast is heartbroken.
The actress was one of the nation's best-loved and longest-serving television stars, starting on the Street 43 years ago.
She died yesterday and is believed to have suffered breast cancer which spread to her brain.
ITV has cancelled filming today as a mark of respect and because the soap's stars and production team are in mourning.
A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The team came into work but were immediately stood down because of Anne's death’, adding it was not clear when filming will begin again.
Flowers and cards have been left outside ITV's studios at Salford Quays today.
One note said: 'RIP Derdrie, You will be sadly missed. You have been a big part of our lives. Good night and God bless. Mr and Mrs Johnson'
A second sympathy card read: 'in deepest sympathy RIP Deirdre, our thoughts and prayers are with all the cast at this difficult time. The Baker family, Salford.'
A tweet by British Super Middleweight boxing champion Paul Smith Jr has gone viral after it captured the mood among fans.
He wrote: 'A national icon, a face (and voice) soap watchers grew up with. God bless her x'.
Fellow actors lined up to pay tribute to the 'loving and vibrant' actress who appeared in 1,439 episodes of the soap.
Veteran Liz Dawn – who played Vera Duckworth in the soap for 34 years - said 'the heart of the show has been ripped out.'
On-screen husband Bill Roache, who worked with her for 40 years as Ken Barlow, said she was 'an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing'.
Jennie McAlpine, who plays the soap's Fiz Stape, said: 'What a mark to make. So many people truly loved Deirdre Barlow'.
It was revealed in September that Miss Kirkbride was to take an extended break from the soap.
The star was expected to be absent for three months and was due to make a return this month.
On-screen couple: Coronation Street actors William Roache, who played Ken Barlow, with Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow, in February 2010. Roache said she was 'such a loving and vibrant person'
Anne Kirkbride was famous for her large spectacles and her husky voice – a result of her own chain smoking. She is pictured in 1973 (left) and behind bars after being jailed for fraud in the soap in 1998 (right)
Royal visit: The Duchess of Cornwall meets actors Beverley Callard (left), Anne Kirkbride (second right) and Ryan Thomas (right), at the Rovers Return during a trip to the set of Coronation Street in Manchester in 2010, the year the soap celebrated its 50th birthday
Moving: Shortly after her death flowers and cards began to pile up outside ITV's studios in Manchester where Coronation Street is filmed
Upset: This tweet by boxing champion Paul Smith Jnr has gone viral after it summed up the mood among fan
Yet in recent days there was speculation that she was considering quitting the role that had made her famous.
Miss Kirkbride, who was born in Oldham, fought a battle with cancer in 1993, when she was forced to temporarily leave the soap after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She returned just a year later.
In 2001 she said: 'I just wanted to die because you just don't want to go on living feeling like that. But you're frightened that if you die you might still feel like that on the other side. There's no escape.'
A source told The Sun last night that Miss Kirkbride had suffered the disease again – developing breast cancer which later spread to her brain.
But an ITV spokesman said the actress's family would not be commenting on her cause of death.
William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken Barlow, said of her death: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years.
'She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama.
'We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed.'
Fellow Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn, 75, told the Mirror: 'It's like the heart of the show has been ripped out because she was so well loved by the cast and crew and by the millions of viewers who watched it.
'She was so lovely and I feel so sad. I'm so shocked because she had previously beaten illness and she showed such courage and spirit.
'I didn't realise she was ill, it was such a shock to hear that another illness has come and taken her away at such a young age.'
Executive producer Kieran Roberts added: 'There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing.
Coronation Street actors: William Roache (left), who played Anne's on-screen husband Ken Barlow, and Johnny Briggs (right), who played Mike Baldwin, with whom Deirdre had an affair, with Anne Kirkbride (centre), who played Deirdre Barlow, pictured together in May 1983
Sad news: William Roache (left), who played Anne Kirkbride's (right) on screen husband Ken Barlow, said: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years'. They are pictured in 2005
Corrie wedding: Deirdre Hunt (Anne Kirkbride) weds Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) in 1975 - the first of her four marriages in the soap
Toyboy: Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre Barlow with Al Nedjari as Samir Rachid on Coronation Street in 1994
Four decades ago: A photograph from December 1974 of Coronation Street stars during a Christmas Party sequence at the Rovers Return, including actress Anne Kirkbride (third left back)
FROM DEIRDRE HUNT TO A CAMPAIGN WITH TONY BLAIR: HOW ANNE KIRKBRIDE'S DEIRDRE BECAME ONE OF BRITAIN'S BEST-LOVED TV STARS
Miss Kirkbride, who was born in Oldham, fought a battle with cancer in 1993, when she was forced to temporarily leave the soap after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She returned just a year later.
In 2001 she said: 'I just wanted to die because you just don't want to go on living feeling like that. But you're frightened that if you die you might still feel like that on the other side. There's no escape.'
A source told The Sun last night that Miss Kirkbride had suffered the disease again – developing breast cancer which later spread to her brain.
But an ITV spokesman said the actress's family would not be commenting on her cause of death.
William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken Barlow, said of her death: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years.
'She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama.
'We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed.'
Fellow Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn, 75, told the Mirror: 'It's like the heart of the show has been ripped out because she was so well loved by the cast and crew and by the millions of viewers who watched it.
'She was so lovely and I feel so sad. I'm so shocked because she had previously beaten illness and she showed such courage and spirit.
'I didn't realise she was ill, it was such a shock to hear that another illness has come and taken her away at such a young age.'
Executive producer Kieran Roberts added: 'There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing.
Coronation Street actors: William Roache (left), who played Anne's on-screen husband Ken Barlow, and Johnny Briggs (right), who played Mike Baldwin, with whom Deirdre had an affair, with Anne Kirkbride (centre), who played Deirdre Barlow, pictured together in May 1983
Sad news: William Roache (left), who played Anne Kirkbride's (right) on screen husband Ken Barlow, said: 'I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years'. They are pictured in 2005
Corrie wedding: Deirdre Hunt (Anne Kirkbride) weds Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) in 1975 - the first of her four marriages in the soap
Toyboy: Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre Barlow with Al Nedjari as Samir Rachid on Coronation Street in 1994
Four decades ago: A photograph from December 1974 of Coronation Street stars during a Christmas Party sequence at the Rovers Return, including actress Anne Kirkbride (third left back)
FROM DEIRDRE HUNT TO A CAMPAIGN WITH TONY BLAIR: HOW ANNE KIRKBRIDE'S DEIRDRE BECAME ONE OF BRITAIN'S BEST-LOVED TV STARS
Off-screen, Anne Kirkbride lived a happy life. But, during her 43-year stay on Corrie, her on-screen character Deirdre Barlow went through rather more than her fair share of ups and downs.
Deirdre Hunt first appeared on the soap in 1972, when she attended a party at The Rovers. She later applied for a part-time job at the pub and became a permanent character.
The next year, Deirdre became engaged to landlord Billy Walker, who was 20 years her senior. That engagement sparked a rollercoaster love life for Deirdre's character, which involved her being married four times and having 13 lovers.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name
Her first marriage, in 1975, was to Ray Langton. But, after their relationship broke down, Deirdre began dating Ken Barlow, played by William Roache. In 1981, more than 24 million viewers watched Deirdre and Ken tie the knot. The ceremony generated higher ratings for ITV than the wedding of Prince of Wales to Princess Diana.
But the happy marriage was the start of a tumultuous love triangle between Ken, Deirdre and Mike Baldwin.
Deirdre had only been married to Ken for a year before she had an affair with Mike, who was played by Johnny Briggs. The feud between the two men went on for more than 20 years and constantly divided viewers' opinions as to whether Deirdre should stay with Ken, or Mike.
In 1993, Anne's character left the soap after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She returned to the show within a year.
Deirdre's third marriage was to young waiter Samir Rachid in 1994. But the following year, Samir was attacked on the way to hospital, as he prepared to donate a kidney to Deirdre's daughter Tracy. Deirdre switched off his life-support machine.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name.
She received the support of the then Prime Minister Tony Blair who intervened - with a touch of irony - after she was jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud, despite Jon walking free.
Granada had always planned for Deirdre to be freed after a matter of weeks, but allowed the public to think their outcry had caused the decision.
In 2005, Deirdre and Ken got engaged again. Their second marriage was supposed to coincide with the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, just as their first marriage coincided with Charles and Diana's.
But due to Prince Charles going to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the wedding was changed by one day. In the end, nearly 12 million people watch the television event, compared to nine million who watched the royal wedding.
More recently, Anne's character was at the centre of a high-profile drama which involved her son Peter Barlow being wrongly jailed for the murder of Tina McIntyre.
Deirdre left Coronation Street in October last year losing her temper during a family meal and launching a trifle at a wall.
The scene came amid the stresses and strains of Peter's upcoming murder trial and leads to Ken suggesting that Deirdre gets out of Weatherfield to pay a visit to her friend Bev.
Her exit meant she not only missed Peter Barlow's being cleared for the murder, but also her on-screen daughter's wedding to Rob Donovan, which ended in Rob fleeing when it emerged he was Tina's killer.
Deirdre Hunt first appeared on the soap in 1972, when she attended a party at The Rovers. She later applied for a part-time job at the pub and became a permanent character.
The next year, Deirdre became engaged to landlord Billy Walker, who was 20 years her senior. That engagement sparked a rollercoaster love life for Deirdre's character, which involved her being married four times and having 13 lovers.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name
Her first marriage, in 1975, was to Ray Langton. But, after their relationship broke down, Deirdre began dating Ken Barlow, played by William Roache. In 1981, more than 24 million viewers watched Deirdre and Ken tie the knot. The ceremony generated higher ratings for ITV than the wedding of Prince of Wales to Princess Diana.
But the happy marriage was the start of a tumultuous love triangle between Ken, Deirdre and Mike Baldwin.
Deirdre had only been married to Ken for a year before she had an affair with Mike, who was played by Johnny Briggs. The feud between the two men went on for more than 20 years and constantly divided viewers' opinions as to whether Deirdre should stay with Ken, or Mike.
In 1993, Anne's character left the soap after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She returned to the show within a year.
Deirdre's third marriage was to young waiter Samir Rachid in 1994. But the following year, Samir was attacked on the way to hospital, as he prepared to donate a kidney to Deirdre's daughter Tracy. Deirdre switched off his life-support machine.
In perhaps her most famous storyline, Deirdre was sent to prison in 1998 after her conman lover Jon Lindsay committed fraud in her name.
She received the support of the then Prime Minister Tony Blair who intervened - with a touch of irony - after she was jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud, despite Jon walking free.
Granada had always planned for Deirdre to be freed after a matter of weeks, but allowed the public to think their outcry had caused the decision.
In 2005, Deirdre and Ken got engaged again. Their second marriage was supposed to coincide with the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, just as their first marriage coincided with Charles and Diana's.
But due to Prince Charles going to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the wedding was changed by one day. In the end, nearly 12 million people watch the television event, compared to nine million who watched the royal wedding.
More recently, Anne's character was at the centre of a high-profile drama which involved her son Peter Barlow being wrongly jailed for the murder of Tina McIntyre.
Deirdre left Coronation Street in October last year losing her temper during a family meal and launching a trifle at a wall.
The scene came amid the stresses and strains of Peter's upcoming murder trial and leads to Ken suggesting that Deirdre gets out of Weatherfield to pay a visit to her friend Bev.
Her exit meant she not only missed Peter Barlow's being cleared for the murder, but also her on-screen daughter's wedding to Rob Donovan, which ended in Rob fleeing when it emerged he was Tina's killer.
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