This morning I woke up to read, with sadness at the death at the age of 60 of Anne Kirkbride, who played Deidre hunt in Coronation Street. She joined the cast of the popular British soap at the age of 17, and led a life of pure drama on set, sometimes playing major roles in some of the soaps largest story-lines. Viewers of the show immediately became infatuated with her domestic dramas and her trademark large, round spectacles. However, off the stage she struggled with her fame, suffering with illness and depression.
Kate Ford, who plays Deidre’s daughter in the soap, tweeted “Heartbroken at the loss of my friend and beautiful on screen mummy. The most crazy, funny 100 per cent human. My life was enriched by her.”
Anne is famous for the storyline that panned out in 1983 when she became involved as part of a love triangle with Ken and Mike. Viewers of the show became so enthralled by her on-screen ordeals that an update on the show was imparted onto the scoreboard during the half time interval at a Manchester United football match. The former prime minister, Tony Blair even jokingly vowed to undertake a review of her case when she was wrongfully imprisoned as part of a story line in 1998 which caused natural outrage.
Phillip Schofield tweeted: “Just checked my phone and have heard of the sad loss of the wonderful Anne Kirkbride. My deepest condolences to the #Corrie family x.”
Anne leaves behind her husband David and her brother John.
RIP Anne Kirkbride.
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