Watch: Heartbreaking moment Deirdre Barlow's death is revealed in Coronation Street
Deirdre Barlow, one of Coronation Street's longest-running and most iconic characters, has been killed off in a heartbreaking scene which aired tonight, following the death of the actress Anne Kirkbride.
A clip previewed on ITV show This Morning shows the moment friend Bev Unwin breaks the shocking news to Deirdre's husband Ken, daughter Tracy and neighbour Audrey.
Watch the moment Ken, Tracy and Audrey learn of Deirdre's death:
The rest of Deirdre's friends and neighbours in Weatherfield learn of her death later at a party planned for her homecoming at the Rovers Return.
Kirkbride, who played Deirdre for 42 years, died in January aged 60.
At the time of her death, she had been away from the screen for four months after taking a break following her diagnosis with cancer.
Her character's funeral was shown during Monday night's episode.
Famed for her oversized spectacles, husky voice, extensive belt collection and signature stuffed marrow dish, Kirkbride was was loved by millions.
She appeared in many colourful storylines over the years, including one of her most memorable soap moments when Deirdre was jailed after being duped into a mortgage fraud by fiance Jon Lindsay.
The storyline even led then-prime minister Tony Blair to give his support to the Free The Weatherfield One movement to get her released.
The actress previously took a break from the soap after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1993.
Watch Deirdre's greatest moments on the ITV Coronation Street website.