Coronation Street stars take to Twitter to pay tribute to Anne Kirkbride

The actress – who played Deirdre Barlow for over 40 years – was adored by viewers and her co-stars past and present, with William Roache, her on-screen husband Ken, releasing a statement following news of her death:

“I feel Anne’s loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years. She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away.

"She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama. We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed.”

Many of Kirkbride's co-stars shared Roache's sentiments, taking to the social networking site to pay their respects to the late actress:

https://twitter.com/kateford76/status/557304423391956993
https://twitter.com/alanhalsall/status/557292328264933377
https://twitter.com/Cath_Tyldesley/status/557287822651314176
https://twitter.com/jenniemcalpine/status/557288121243803649
https://twitter.com/michkeegan/status/557297125428830209
https://twitter.com/antonycotton/status/557301708859387909
https://twitter.com/NatalieGumede/status/557289250518208512
https://twitter.com/andywhyment81/status/557294167635001345
https://twitter.com/realsamia/status/557286874453389312
https://twitter.com/msm4rsh/status/557294414000046080
https://twitter.com/debbie_rush/status/557291387050536960
https://twitter.com/lane_paula/status/557289111196028928
https://twitter.com/BrookeLVincent/status/557295630545321984
https://twitter.com/NikkiSanderson/status/557296425714073600
https://twitter.com/lane_paula/status/557289111196028928
https://twitter.com/Beverleycallard/status/557297092126076928
https://twitter.com/georgiafoote/status/557301559445700608
https://twitter.com/georgiafoote/status/557301559445700608

They were joined on Twitter by a steady stream of tweeters from rival soaps...

https://twitter.com/AdamWoodyatt/status/557292589666533376
https://twitter.com/MarkCharnock_/status/557289888270516225
https://twitter.com/dominictc/status/557308482337406976
https://twitter.com/dominicbrunt/status/557293779452174337

But it wasn't just soap stars paying their respects – plenty more famous faces went online to share their shock and favourite memories of the much-loved actress...

https://twitter.com/PaddyMcGuinness/status/557295404728209408
https://twitter.com/CharleneWhite/status/557290655912042498
https://twitter.com/russelltovey/status/557355343341039616
https://twitter.com/Vicky_McClure/status/557323251396128768
https://twitter.com/adilray/status/557287389924974594
https://twitter.com/Schofe/status/557294276284268544
https://twitter.com/BeingBoycie/status/557290102972768256
https://twitter.com/DuncanBannatyne/status/557291820586377219
https://twitter.com/reallorraine/status/557288694370291712