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Coronation Street star Vicky Binns has revealed that she was thrilled with her dramatic exit from the soap.
The actress performed her final scenes as Molly Dobbs in an hour-long live episode last night as the shop worker died from the injuries she sustained in the tram crash disaster.
Shortly before passing away, Molly was at the centre of a final dramatic twist as she came clean over her affair with Kevin Webster as she spent her dying moments with his wife Sally.
Speaking during a webchat on Corrie's official site last night, Binns commented: "Now it's finished I'm feeling overwhelmed. Very elated. It was difficult to play the dying scenes. Definitely a challenge as it's something I've never done before. I was honoured to do it."
She added: "I will miss everyone but what a way to leave!"
Binns said that she would miss working with screen husband Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) the most and named their wedding storyline as a "brilliant memory".
In a final message to fans, she said: "Thanks everyone for watching and your support."
Molly was the second casualty of Corrie's 50th anniversary week, following the death of Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) in Wednesday night's episode.
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Coronation Street star Ben Price has admitted that he felt genuinely emotional as he performed his scenes in last night's live episode.
In yesterday evening's special 50th anniversary broadcast, the actor's character Nick Tilsley emerged from the wreckage of The Joinery following the tragic death of Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) in the destroyed building.
Subsequent scenes saw Nick go for a check-up at the hospital, where he soon faced fresh heartbreak with the discovery that his secret lover Leanne Battersby planned to marry seriously-ill Peter Barlow at his bedside.
Speaking of the live transmission, Price commented: "I remember thinking as it was about to start, 'Oh s**t this is landmark television!'
"Once it started I was so immersed in it, it was like really being there. The [tram] crash was so real and I really felt the loss of Steven Arnold when we talked about the fact that Ashley had died."
Last night's live episode also saw Molly Dobbs pass away, while Peter's future is currently uncertain after he flatlined in a dramatic cliffhanger.
A double bill of Coronation Street airs at 7.30pm and 8.30pm tonight, when the fates of more characters are expected to become clear.
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Former Coronation Street star Brian Capron has praised the soap's cast and crew for last night's live episode.
The ITV1 show yesterday marked its 50th anniversary with a live transmission which featured a birth, a death and a marriage in the aftermath of the street's tram crash tragedy.
Capron - who played Weatherfield villain Richard Hillman - told This Morning today: "I thought it was absolutely superb - so much incident, plot twists and superb production values. The planning that must have gone into it was terrific."
Asked whether live episodes of soaps are merely publicity stunts, the actor replied: "I think that's what people say, but my angle on it is that - amazingly enough - when you do a normal recording, the best take is nearly always the first take. Often you have to go again because of something technical, but when you do the second take, you sometimes just don't have that freshness and energy.
"I thought they were obviously all up for it last night - they had that extra edge. Also, in a way, it's rather nice to do your first performance and know it's going to go straight out."
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Coronation Street's 50th anniversary week concluded tonight with a fresh rescue attempt, a heated showdown between Kevin and Sally and the end of the road for bunny boiler Charlotte Hoyle.
As the aftermath of the soap's tram crash disaster continued, hapless John Stape crept into Charlotte's hospital room and prepared to get rid of her for good by unplugging the machine that was keeping her alive.
However, just before John could commit another sinister act, he was interrupted by the arrival of Charlotte's parents at her bedside. To his relief, though, the doctors later reported that the twisted schoolteacher had permanent brain damage and - still posing as Colin - John agreed that they should switch off her life support machine.
Meanwhile, Peter Barlow survived life-saving surgery at the hospital - but the doctors warned that his battle was far from over, meaning that his future still remains uncertain.
Back on the cobbles, Rita's plight was finally discovered after Nick Tilsley revealed that her plans for the evening had been cancelled, meaning that she was in The Kabin when the tram hit.
Subsequent scenes saw Rita rescued from the shop and taken to hospital. After hearing about the nature of the disaster, the show favourite delivered a memorable line as she quipped: "What is it with me and trams?"
Elsewhere, the Websters' marriage dramatically hit the rocks as Sally told Kevin that she knew the truth about the paternity of baby Jack. As Sally made it clear that her husband was no longer welcome at the house, it appeared that their relationship could be over for good.
With the soap's anniversary week having now claimed three casualties, speculation over the rest of the characters continues as the birthday storylines were promoted with the tagline "Four Funerals and a Wedding"
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BAR owner Nick Tilsley will be at the centre of a probe into the gas blast which caused the Corrie tram crash disaster.
Shocked residents will begin to point the finger of blame.
And their list will include Nick and builder Owen Armstrong, who led the team renovating The Joinery - under the tram viaduct arches.
Nick is tormented by the explosion, and may flee the Street as a result. Actor Ben Price, 38, who plays him, said: "He does feel very responsible.
"There are all types of blame as to why there was an explosion and why people died. But it's his bar."
Ashley Peacock and Molly Dobbs both perished - and Peter Barlow was left with his life hanging by a thread.
Viewers saw Nick escape from the wreckage of The Joinery in Thursday's live episode.
A fire officer arrives on Monday to investigate the gas problem in the kitchen of the bar - and ask why it wasn't reported.
Ben said: "That's worse for Nick than being trapped.
"The aftermath really takes its toll on him." He said seeing young dad Ashley crushed to death will have a huge effect on Nick.
He added: "The tram crash changes Nick's life and perspective. Viewers will see a different side to him."
Hot ratings
THE biggest Corrie audience for nearly seven years watched Thursday's hour-long live episode, it was confirmed yesterday.
The show, which produced a near-seamless performance by the 65-strong cast, was watched by 14.9million - more than half of the night's TV audience.
The Apprentice: The Final Five, which was broadcast at the same time, drew just 2.5million.
Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, said: "I'm delighted. It is testament to the fantastic work of a hugely talented team."
It was the biggest Street audience since February 2004, when 16.3million saw Tracy Barlow gatecrash the wedding of Steve and Karen McDonald to reveal that Steve was baby Amy's dad.
Corrie's last live transmission, on its 40th anniversary in 2000, pulled in 15.6million viewers.
EastEnders' live broadcast last February, to mark its quarter-century, attracted 16.6million.
The Sun
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The Queen has sent a congratulatory message to the cast of Coronation Street for their 50th anniversary.
According to the Daily Star Sunday, a letter from Her Majesty was read out by executive producer Kieran Roberts at Manchester's Hilton Hotel where the birthday celebrations took place on Friday.
Video messages were also played from Snoop Dogg, Prime Minister David Cameron, Steven Gerrard, Julie Walters and Ant and Dec, while Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) received a special letter from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is apparently a huge fan of the show.
A source said: "There was a lot of back-patting going on, congratulating each other. It was a good do, though, and ITV spared no expense in making it a night to remember. The party went on until nearly two o'clock and by that time there were some pretty good shapes being thrown on the dance floor.
"The bar bill must have been pretty hefty as no-one was holding back on the champagne. They tried to behave despite all the booze because no-one wanted to bring shame on the soap on such a special night. They are carefully watched these days and no-one wants to attract any bad headlines."
Street stars from past and present attended the party, including Johnny Briggs (Mike Baldwin), Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) and Tracy Shaw (Maxine Peacock).
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Graeme Hawley has praised his former Coronation Street co-star Becky Hindley, confirming that she was "brilliant" to work with on the soap.
Last week, fans saw Hindley make her final appearance as crazy Charlotte Hoyle as the bunny boiler became one of three characters who lost their lives in the show's 50th anniversary week.
Hawley's character John Stape furiously attacked Charlotte with a hammer in a double bill which aired last Monday. He later encouraged her parents to turn off her life support machine after doctors confirmed that she was unlikely to wake up from a coma.
Speaking about Hindley in an interview with PA, Hawley commented: "She has been absolutely fantastic to work with. It's been brilliant. We never knew this storyline would go that way when she first came in to do a couple of episodes with Colin [Fishwick].
"She has made so much out of that part. The whole storyline has been fantastic and one of my most enjoyable times here."
Charlotte had been a thorn in John's side for several months after they both covered up Colin's death, which occurred during a heated bust-up at the Stape household.
Hawley's screen wife Jennie McAlpine (Fiz) and Corrie producer Phil Collinson have also praised Hindley in recent days.
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The live episode was amazing! :clap:
Best performance for me was Molly's. :thumbsup:
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Coronation Street fans have now seen the last of the soap's 50th anniversary deaths, Digital Spy can confirm.
Last week, viewers saw Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) and Charlotte Hoyle (Becky Hindley) all perish as the soap marked its milestone with seven special episodes which saw disaster hit the cobbles.
However, as the celebrations concluded on Friday night, some fans were left wondering whether there was more tragedy to come as trailers for the 50th anniversary had contained the tagline "Four Funerals and a Wedding".
DS can now confirm that the mystery fourth death was the taxi driver and father-of-three mentioned by firefighters in Thursday night's live episode. He had been close to The Joinery when the bar exploded.
Corrie bosses had created the "Four Funerals" tagline as a red herring in a bid to increase the speculation and secrecy surrounding the high-profile week of episodes.
Show producer Phil Collinson today confirmed to DS: "It was vital that we created as much anticipation and intrigue as possible for anniversary week. The 'Four Funerals' tag was too good to resist and encouraged the speculation about who would and who would not survive this terrible week in Weatherfield.
"In this case, speculation became a big part of the viewers' identification with the drama and therefore enhanced their enjoyment of it."
Ashley's passing was confirmed last Wednesday as he died a hero while trying to save Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) in the crumbling Joinery. Molly died in the next evening's episode due to the injuries she sustained in the tram crash.
Meanwhile, Charlotte's demise began when John Stape furiously attacked her with a hammer just before the tram hit. After making her terrible fate look like part of the carnage on the cobbles, John later advised Charlotte's parents to turn off her life support machine once doctors explained that she would not wake from her coma.
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Im very angry about thi whole taxi driver business
