Anne Kirkbride Dies Age Sixty

Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride, who played the character Deirdre Barlow in the television soap, has died aged sixty after a short illness.  The actress who was in the show for forty-two years, passed away peacefully in a Manchester hospital.

Co-star William Roache, who played her on screen husband Ken Barlow for forty years, said, “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.”

Kirkbride who…