Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride)

Anne Kirkbride will be taking an extended leave from Coronation Street.

The 60-year-old Kirkbride is taking a sabbatical to deal with personal affairs, reports the Daily Star.
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Celebrity Birthdays 20th June - 26th June: Anne Kirkbride
© Rex Features / McPix Ltd

"Anne Kirkbride requested a slightly extended period of leave from the show, a request the company was happy to grant," a Corrie spokeswoman said.

Kirkbride is expected to be absent for three months from her role as Deirdre Barlow.

The long-time series regular is expected to return in the new year.

Kirkbride has portrayed viewer-favourite Deirdre on-and-off since 1972.

Maybe she is going to look after Peter depending on how he is being written out ...

oh no i will miss her

I hope Anne isnt ill.......

She has had breast cancer before ............

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Perdita

She has had breast cancer before ............

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did she not have something throat-related, or lymph node....

because I always thought with the husky voice, and the number of ciggies, I'd worry about my throat...?

I might have got this wrong in my memory, maybe it was some other form of cancer :(

According to the Daily Mail she suffered from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma , I don't know but does that tie in with Perdita's and your thoughts Sarah c ?. Since then she has suffered from very acute depression . God speed to her for a full recovery and return to corrie if it is that

She has be around for Tracey's wedding :p

That's a shame. Thought Deirdre was far more entertaining in Ken's absence. Seems odd him coming back, and her going.