Late Corrie star’s last scene up for TV award

The LATE Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride has been named among the nominees in this year’s British Soap Awards –four months after her death.
Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre BarlowAnne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow
Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow

The 60-year-old, who became a legend of the cobbles and household favourite for her role as Deidre Barlow, is nominated for “scene of the year”.

Ms Kirkbride, who died in January, had starred in the ITV soap for 44 years but had been away from the screen since last September following a cancer diagnosis. Her nomination is for her final scenes in the show.

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The emotional episode saw Deirdre hurl her trifle at a wall in anger before breaking down in the arms of husband Ken, and the scenes were filmed to allow Ms Kirkbride to take an anticipated three-month break from the show.

They show Deirdre reaching breaking point after daughter-in-law Carla and daughter Tracy argue over Carla’s reluctance to speak to her imprisoned husband Peter on the phone.

Ken suggested that Deirdre stayed with her friend Bev for a while, and that was the last time Deirdre graced the cobbles.

Other scenes nominated for the award are the strictly dancing episode in Doctors and Kathy comes home in EastEnders.

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There will undoubtedly be more tributes to Ms Kirkbride at the 17th annual awards in Manchester on May 16. Her popularity with viewers was evident in the outpouring of grief across the country in the wake of her death.

Earlier this year, the National Television Awards honoured the actress and Bill Roache, who played her on-screen husband, made a speech that moved many to tears.