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| Service for Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride at Manchester Cathedral | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A memorial service for Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride has been held at Manchester Cathedral. | |
| Kirkbride was one of the ITV soap's most familiar characters, playing husky-voiced Deirdre Barlow for 42 years. | Kirkbride was one of the ITV soap's most familiar characters, playing husky-voiced Deirdre Barlow for 42 years. |
| She died in January, aged 60, after a battle with cancer. | |
| Cast members William Roache and Beverley Callard were among the actors attending the service, which began at 11.30 BST. | |
| Kirkbride started in Coronation Street in 1972 as Deirdre Hunt. In the 1980s, one of the soap's most famous storylines hinged on whether she would stay with Ken Barlow. She was married four times in the programme, twice to Ken. | Kirkbride started in Coronation Street in 1972 as Deirdre Hunt. In the 1980s, one of the soap's most famous storylines hinged on whether she would stay with Ken Barlow. She was married four times in the programme, twice to Ken. |
| Deirdre Barlow had been off screen for some months prior to Kirkbride's death, while the actress was given a break by the show's producers. | Deirdre Barlow had been off screen for some months prior to Kirkbride's death, while the actress was given a break by the show's producers. |
| The Cathedral's subdean, Philip Barratt, conducted the service, with hymns performed by Manchester Cathedral choir. | |
| There were readings and tributes from members of the cast and executive producer Kieran Roberts, as part of a celebration of Kirkbride's life. | |
| Her actor husband Dave Beckett helped the Coronation Street team produce the service and was involved in every aspect of the celebration, including the choice of music and readings. | |
| Images of the actress in her role as Deirdre and photographs taken with her real life family were on display. | |
| An exhibition of artwork which Kirkbride photographed and painted throughout her life has also been set up. |