Sad news…

We’ve just received word from ITV that Liz Dawn, long-time star of Coronation Street, passed away last night aged 77.

A statement from her family says:

“We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our much-loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn. Liz died peacefully last night at home with her loving family around her.

She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing.”

The team behind the long-running soap added:

“It is with the greatest sadness that we have learned our beloved Liz Dawn has passed away last night. Her family at Coronation Street are heartbroken. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy at this very sad time to Liz’s devoted husband Don, her loving children Graham, Dawn, Ann and Julie, their families and her six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

We have been blessed to have Liz in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague. As Coronation Street’s Vera Duckworth for 34 years, Liz brought so much joy and happiness to so many. She was a wonderful actress who will forever be a true Coronation Street legend.”

IMDB tells us that Liz racked up no-less than 849 episodes playing the iconic Vera, most alongside her hapless on-screen husband Jack (played by Bill Tarmey). After her character was written out of the show in 2008, she would famously return for one more episode in 2010 – playing Vera’s ghost – to mark the departure of her on-screen partner’s passing. Prior to picking up that role in 1976, however, she had also made a couple of bit-part appearances on the Street, which took her total to 851.

After making her name in a 1974 Play For Today entitled ‘Leeds United’ – one of four roles she played in the anthology series – she also appeared in British TV classics Crown Court, Z Cars and The Wheeltappers and Shunters Club before settling into her career-defining run as one of soap opera’s classic characters. Her final TV appearance would be two-episode guest slot in Emmerdale back at Christmas 2010.

Our thoughts go out to her family and friends.