Coronation Street stars past and present have paid tribute to the “caring, loveable and funny” Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow in the soap for more than 40 years. Smiles and laughter were the theme at Manchester Cathedral in a celebration of the life of the popular Oldham-born actress, who was hailed for creating one of television’s “truly great characters”. The memorial service, attended by up to 600 people including members of the public, heard that all Kirkbride “ever wanted to do was make people happy”.
