Liz Dawn, Michelle Keegan and Paddy McGuinness among stars paying tribute to Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride
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Liz Dawn, Michelle Keegan and Paddy McGuinness are among a host of stars who have paid tribute to Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride who died aged 60 following a short illness.
Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the ITV soap told the Daily Mirror that the "heart of the show has been ripped out".
She said: "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.
Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride dies aged 60
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"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.
Kirkbride's fellow cast members were quick to pay tribute to the actress who starred as Deirdre Barlow in some of the shows most high profile plots since joining the soap in 1972.
Anthony Cotton who plays factory worker Sean Tully said: “Thank you everyone. As you can imagine, we're all in complete shock. She was our friend as well as our colleague and we'll miss her so much."
Former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan tweeted: "So so sad. Devastating news. Love you Annie. The nation is now in mourning...xxx."
Samia Ghadie who plays unlucky in love Maria Fowler in the soap tweeted: “#RIP to a wonderful unforgettable lady.. Anne Kirkbride . We will miss you so very much x.”
Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness paid tribute on Twitter by uploading a picture of a pair of spectacles.
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Professor Green posted a picture of the late actress to his Instagram account alongside the caption: "RIP Deirdre/Anne Kirkbride, I spent hours watching coronation street with my nan(s) as a kid. X."
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="4"><div><div><div /></div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/p/yDXPXGPs8C/" target="_blank" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-112641-https://instagram.com/p/yDXPXGPs8C/" data-vars-event-id="c23">RIP Deirdre/Anne Kirkbride, I spent hours watching coronation street with my nan(s) as a kid. X</a>A photo posted by Stephen Manderson (@professorgreen) on <time datetime="2015-01-19T22:37:31+00:00">Jan 19, 2015 at 2:37pm PST</time></div>
She is survived by her husband and her brother John Kirkbride.