Anne Kirkbride (Dierdre Barlow) has passed away.

[Samantha]

http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/news/anne-kirkbride

Passed away peacefully in a Manchester hospital after a short illness.

She was annoying on the soap most of the time, but I can't believe it :(. RIP!

[Jssy]

Aw I still loved her! rip x

[Chris]

Quite shocked to be honest. It was just this morning that I was reading a rumour that she was going to quit the show. RIP.

[Shockwave.2CC]

Awwww

RIP

[Absently]

i think she's great :'( don't even watch corrie anymore but i really enjoyed her. rest in peace x

[dbgtz]

Not Deidre! Couldn't believe this the first time I saw it. I mean, she was pretty bad in the soap and I would always end up looking at her neck, but still.

[Alkaz]

I still can't get over the fact she was in the soap for 42 years :O! But yeah, it is still a shock and the show wont be the same without her. RIP

[-:Undertaker:-]

Hard to take that in, with her and Blanche gone I can't see Ken staying on much longer.

RIP, always remember the famous part with Dev.

[Metric1]

I figured something was up when she didn't come back for the wedding.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I figured something was up when she didn't come back for the wedding.

The papers were abound with rumours it was because she was depressed, surprising it was this.

[ItsMeerken]

The show isnt going to be the same tbh, I know alot of people say this but she has been in Corrie for 42 Years, Probably the longest running actress there.

Anyway, she will never be forgotten for her work. Sleep Tight.

R.I.P Anne Kirkbride

[GommeInc]

Such sad news to wake up to this morning. She was an iconic character, a bit like Dot Cotton in EastEnders. There is no way they can replace the actress in the soap - they might have her as a non-screen character people refer to then write her out like they did with Blanche.

[Metric1]

The papers were abound with rumours it was because she was depressed, surprising it was this.

I don't live in the UK so Coronation Street rarely makes the news. It's not surprising she died of lung cancer though, she smoked like a chimney on the show and by the sound of her voice the habit went home with her as well. She also looked closer to 75.. Funny thing is mom and I watched a program about the new set and they were moving something and Norris was outside smoking with Peter.. I never would have expected him to be a smoker in real life haha

[Lewis]

Don't know her but RIP

[Matt]

So sad and still young. The little tribute they did at the NTA's was so nice, I thought it was really touching. I think the cast agreed not to attend any parties before/after as a sign of respect to Anne too. 40 years on the program was such an achievement.

RIP :(