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Coronation Street royalty, actress Liz Dawn, dies aged 77

Dawn was famous for playing Vera Duckworth in the long-running soap for 34 years.

itv 50th Doug Peters / PA Images Doug Peters / PA Images / PA Images

ACTRESS LIZ DAWN, one of British TV’s best-known faces, has died, her family has confirmed.

The actress died peacefully in her sleep aged 77.

Dawn became a household name in Britain for her performance as the irascible, but lovable, factory worker Vera for 34 years from 1974.

JackDuckworthTribute / YouTube

She and her husband, the long-suffering Jack Duckworth (who didn’t actually appear in the show until 1979), served up some of the long-running soap’s best-known storylines, not least their eternal tribulations in dealing with ne-er-do-well son Terry.

Liz Dawn death (l to r) Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth), actor Neville Buswell, Liz Dawn, pictured in 1997 PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

“We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our much-loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn,” a statement from her family read.

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.”

Coronation Street issued a statement describing its “great sadness” at Dawn’s passing:

“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,” it read.

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.

Dawn (real name Sylvia Butterfield) was born in Leeds in 1939.

She appeared in a number of UK television programmes before making her bow as Vera in 1974.

Dawn was diagnosed with emphysema in 2004 but continued to work on Coronation Street for a further four years, before her character passed away in her sleep in 2008.

The episode featuring Vera’s death attracted more than 12 million viewers.

She made one further appearance as Vera in 2010 when her character returned in a sequence showing her onscreen husband Jack’s (played by Bill Tarmey, who himself died in 2012 aged 71) death, which culminated in the pair sharing one final, emotional dance.

Read: ‘It’s especially relevant to Irish women at this time’: This 2,500-year-old play has startling links to the world of 2017

Read: A short story before bedtime: Dublin Streets

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    Mute Jack Hackett
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    May 6th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Hopefully they can get a feta deal

    95
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    May 6th 2015, 7:08 PM

    Let the cheese puns begin. I think this could lead to a bitter fromage fray between the Canadians and the Greeks

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    Mute Marco Reilly
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    May 6th 2015, 7:12 PM

    Ah Cheeseus, they’re terrible

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    Mute Joanna
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    May 6th 2015, 7:42 PM

    Greece seem cheesed off, Canada feta get their act together.

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    Mute Symbolism
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    May 6th 2015, 7:07 PM

    Hard cheese

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    May 6th 2015, 9:18 PM

    Damn Canadians up to no gouda.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    May 6th 2015, 7:49 PM

    That Statahakis fella, Edam well better discuss it with colleagues!!

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    May 6th 2015, 8:03 PM

    I hope the Greeks use the veto. Enough of the deFETAist attitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Mute Joey Sullivan
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    May 6th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Canada under stephen harper is another corporate owned cesspool. Tar sands and corporate ownership of govt are destroying a once model nation. Corrupt america junior.

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    Mute Reg
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    May 6th 2015, 7:49 PM

    Partial to a bit of Haloumi myself!

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    Mute Gene Parmesan
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    May 7th 2015, 12:40 AM

    They should caerphilly tell the Canadians that this nacho cheese!

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    Mute William Bayle
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    May 6th 2015, 8:04 PM

    Fêta is made with ewe milk . See what I did there

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    May 7th 2015, 6:36 AM

    Feta is made primarily from sheep milk, up to 30% goat milk is permitted! Come on stop making silly mistakes like this on the Jounal, Google is your friend.

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    Mute Kevin Feeney
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    May 7th 2015, 11:24 AM

    Is the market worth three million euro or does three million euro represent 10% of that market ? Either way the money involved won’t help Greece in any way.
    Please be more accurate dear Journal.

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