Veteran Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn has stepped down from her role as the iconic Vera Duckworth due to ill health.
Liz – who has played her Weatherfield character for 34 years – took the decision to quit the ITV soap for health reasons as she suffers from chronic lung disease, emphysema.
The News of The World quotes the 68-year-old actress as saying her time with the show has been the best of her life.
Corrie's Executive Producer Kieran Roberts told the newspaper: "After 34 years as Vera, Liz has taken a decision to relax and enjoy her retirement.
"We're currently devising a storyline for her character's departure from Weatherfield but we would prefer not to reveal details at the moment."
He went on to say that despite her decision to quit the role in a regular capacity, Vera will continue to make guest appearances, since her on-screen husband, Jack (Bill Tarmey), is sticking with the soap.
Kieran added: "We'll all miss Liz enormously as she's a wonderful lady and a first-rate actress."
Liz is due to remain filming at Manchester's Granada Studios until late October, early November, while her character will bow out of the show before Christmas.
This is the latest cast blow for Corrie bosses as Sean Gallagher (Paul Connor) quit earlier this year after only five months, while Kate Ford and Bill Ward both bid farewell to the Cobbles at the culmination of Tracy Barlow's murderous revenge against Charlie Stubbs.
Meanwhile Wendi Peters (Cilla Battersby-Brown), Tina O'Brien (Sarah Platt), Samantha Seager (Jodie Morton), Rupert Hill (Jamie Baldwin) and Jenny Platt (Violet Wilson) will all leave within the next seven months.
Bradley Walsh, however, will return to the Cobbles as Danny Baldwin "at the back end of this year".
How come I've been taking my meds"
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