'Legendary' Coronation Street actor Anne Kirkbride dies

Coronation Street actor William Roache led tributes to his colleague Anne Kirkbride at the National Television Awards. A small group of colleagues were with him in the audience at the O2 Arena in London. As the soap's Ken and Deirdre Barlow, they shared the screen for more than 40 years.

The Coronation Street actor William Roache will lead the tributes to Anne Kirkbride as the world of broadcasting honours her at the National Television Awards.

A small group of colleagues will be with him in the audience at the O2 Arena in London.

As the soap's Ken and Deirdre Barlow, they shared the screen for more than 40 years.

This report from Tim Scott:

Coronation Street star Helen Worth tearfully told Good Morning Britain how much Anne Kirkbride will be missed on the set.

The ITV soap shut down filming yesterday but Worth - who plays the long-suffering Gail McIntyre - said she was happy to be back on the cobbles so she could reminisce about Kirkbride with others who knew her so well.

"I personally am grateful to be back on set today amongst the cast where we can talk about Annie and remember the wonderful lovable person that she was," the actress told GMB.

There are calls for Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride to be given a posthumous lifetime achievement award following her death on Monday.

It was revealed her onscreen husband William Roache, who played Ken Barlow, will deliver a touching tribute to her at the National Television Awards tonight.

And the soap is bookies' favourite to scoop the award for best serial drama.

Anne's castmates are due back at work today after hearing the heartbreaking news.

Writers now face the task of writing the much-loved character out of the show and say it will happen within the next month.

The world of broadcasting will pay tribute to Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride at the National Television Awards.

Organisers said they are planning to honour the star who played Deirdre Barlow for 44 years. She died following a short illness on Monday.

Organisers are now working out last-minute plans for how to incorporate her contribution to the soap world into the event, which is being broadcast by ITV tomorrow evening.

Some of the biggest names in TV will attend the show at the O2 Arena in London, with Coronation Street already likely to have a strong presence as the show is up for the best serial drama prize.

A tearful William Roache has told how the cast and crew of Coronation Street are in mourning after the sudden death of his on-screen wife.

Speaking to ITV News, Mr Roache described Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow for 44 years, as a "truly beautiful person".

Speaking from the set of the show, he praised her for being a "superb all-rounder" as an actress, with "impeccable" comedy timing.

Meanwhile, creative director Kieran Roberts said his favourite of Deirdre's numerous headline-grabbing storylines was her 1998 wrongful jailing, which sparked a nationwide campaign to get the fictional conviction overturned.

Former Coronation Street star Johnny Briggs paid tribute to "incredible" Anne Kirkbride.

Johnny - who starred as Mike Barlow, her lover and rival to her screen husband Ken Barlow - said, "everybody loved her."

Anne Kirkbride created a "unique and unforgettable character" in Deirdre Barlow, ITV's Director of Television has said.

Paying tribute to Anne, Peter Fincham said: "Anne has been a truly loyal servant to Coronation Street since joining the programme in the early 1970s.

"She created a unique and unforgettable character in Deirdre Barlow and she'll be greatly missed on and off screen.

"Our sincerest condolences to Anne's husband David and her family at this very sad time"

Although Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride was best known for her role as Deirdre, she was 17 when she landed her first profesional acting part.

ITV Granada correspondent Amy Welch takes a look back at Anne's career and how it all started in her home town of Oldham.