.Soap star Anne Kirkbride died in January this year aged 60 after a losing a short battle with cancer
- .Oldham-born actress was in Coronation Street for more than 40 years, appearing in more than 3,000 episodes
- .Today friends and family and cast and crew of soap attended actress's memorial service at Manchester Cathedral
- .On-screen husband William Roache and granddaughter Elle Mulvaney both gave readings at the service
Huge crowds gathered outside the memorial for Anne Kirkbride today as her on-screen granddaughter paid tribute to the 'caring, lovable and funny' Coronation Street star.
At a packed service held at Manchester Cathedral, young actress Elle Mulvaney said it was 'a privilege' to call herself a friend of Kirkbride - who played Deirdre Barlow in the ITV soap for 43 years.
Anne, who died of cancer in January 2015, was one of the show's best-known performers and was loved by millions for her portrayal of husky-voiced Deirdre, famed for many years for her oversized spectacles.
Final farewell: Actor Bill Roache, who played Anne Kirkbride's husband in the soap, is greeted by hundreds of fans after the service
Died of cancer: Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride, who played the role of Deirdre Barlow for more than 40 years, passed away in January
Moving words: Elle Mulvaney, who plays Anne Kirkbride's on-screen granddaughter Amy Barlow, delivered a stirring reading at the service, as did the late actress's close friend and co-star Beverley Callard (right)
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'.
To co-stars, she was regarded as one of the most popular actors to grace the Weatherfield cobbles after recording her first episode in November 1972.
She appeared in more than 3,300 episodes before taking a short break from the show and therefore appearing for the last time in October 2014.
Anne's husband of 23 years Dave Beckett helped the Coronation Street production team to produce today's poignant service and was involved in every aspect of the celebration including the choice of music and readings.
Her close friend, Beverley Callard, who plays Liz McDonald, and her on-screen granddaughter Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow) gave affectionate tributes, as did her brother, John, the ITV1 show's executive producer Kieran Roberts and crew members.
Long-term on-screen husband William Roache (Ken Barlow) gave a reading of the David Harkins poem She Is Gone.
Huge loss to the show: Mourners stand during the service dedicated to Anne Kirkbride at Manchester Cathedral today
Welling up: Hayley Tamaddon, who plays Andrea Becket in the soap, wipes a tear away from her eye during this morning's emotional service
During service: Remembering his long-term on-screen wife, Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) gave a reading of the David Harkins poem She Is Gone
Close bond: Anne's on-screen husband William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, (left) and real-life husband of 23 years Dave Beckett (right) pictured at today's service in Manchester
Showing appreciation: Bill Roache embraces fans who turned out in their hundreds to pay their respects to show favourite Anne
Huge turn out: Fans lined the entrance to the cathedral as the soap's actresses Kym Marsh and Michelle Collins solemnly made their way in
Packed-out service: Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell and partner Louise Gibbons arrive to pay their respects to Anne Kirkbride
Former co-stars: Shobna Gulati (left) played Sunita Alahan in the soap while Julie Hesmondhalgh (right) played Hayley Cropper
Sally Ann Matthews (left) who plays Jenny Bradley in the soap, and Bruce Jones (right) who plays Les Battersby where also at the service
Poignant tribute: Co-stars make their way towards Manchester Cathedral for today's memorial service passing hundreds of fans along the way
Tribute: Les Dennis (left) and Kym Marsh (right) were pictured leading a crowd into Manchester Cathedral for today's service
Popular with co-stars: Actresses Sue Johnston (left) and Michelle Collins arrive at the service for late Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride
Images of the actress in her role as Deirdre and photographs taken with her real life family will be on display and an exhibition of artwork which Kirkbride photographed and painted throughout her life was also on view.
The show's crew also wrote a moving tribute, saying Kirkbride made work 'feel like home'.
Crew members Paul Sparrow, Stephen Polack and Ciaron Hatzar added: 'We'd like to share a common and yet very often under-appreciated saying that Annie used on a daily basis. After greeting or leaving you with a massive Annie hug, and seriously that was one hell of a bear hug, Annie would say with great sincerity "I luuuuv youuuuu".'
Speaking on ITV's Lorraine recently, Anne's close friend Beverley Callard admitted she still misses Anne every day, on and off set.
'Oh, gosh,' she said. 'I miss everything about her. People used to call us the work sisters because we were just always together.
'Even in private life as well we both used to go to Spain together with our husbands and I truly miss her every single day.'
The 58-year-old star, who plays Liz McDonald in the ITV soap, filmed her first scene in the home of Anne's character Deirdre Barlow last week for the first time since her death.
She confessed that she found it much more difficult than she was expecting, explaining: 'We're beginning to sort of talk about Deirdre and my husband said to me, 'How will you feel about this?'
'And I said 'I'll be fine because we're not talking about Annie the friend, we're talking about Deirdre', but suddenly I walked into the Barlow's and I was so taken over with emotion and it was really, really difficult to do and I've not found that before.'
Funeral procession: Brooke Vincent and Daniel Brocklebank lead a line of celebrity mourners who turned out to pay their respects today
Flocking to pay respects: Former co-star Sue Nicholls (left) arrives with actress Helen Worth and husband Trevor Dawson (right)
Sad day: Sally Dynevor (left), who plays Sally Webster arrives and Daniel Brocklebank and Brooke Vincent (right) walk in
Remembering Anne: Colson Smith (left), who plays Craig Tinker and Beverley Callard, who plays Liz McDonald, appear at today's service
Mourners: Marc Anwar (left), who plays Sharif Nazir on the show and actor Kieran Roberts (right) and his partner arrive at the service today
'ANNIE WE LOVE YOU, AND WE MISS YOU LOTS': CORONATION STREET CREW'S POIGNANT TRIBUTE TO ACTRESS
Coronation Street crew members Paul Sparrow, Stephen Polack and Ciaron Hatzar said Kirkbride made work 'feel like home'.
They said: 'Each and every day she arrived with such a presence. Dare I say sometimes a few minutes late, and this was simply because she'd got caught in conversation along the way - very often with people she'd never even met before or catching up with someone who'd not been around for a while.
'If you were that very fortunate guest to the studio, perhaps someone's family member visiting on a special occasion, you too would be pulled in the world of Annie and always, every time, without fail, she was able to work out your star sign within a matter of minutes.
'We'd like to share a common and yet very often under-appreciated saying that Annie used on a daily basis. After greeting or leaving you with a massive Annie hug, and seriously that was one hell of a bear hug, Annie would say with great sincerity 'I luuuuv youuuuu'.
'Annie did love so many people.'
The show's executive producer Mr Roberts said Kirkbride was 'warm, kind-hearted, generous, spirited, talented and fun-loving'.
Loved and respected: Anne appeared in more than 3,300 episodes during a 43-year stint on the ITV soap
He said: 'Anne was a very private person so not much was ever written about her in the newspapers and she shunned the bright lights, award ceremonies and glittering premieres.
'In fact we once asked her if she would like to attend a prestigious Bafta ceremony at the lavish Grosvenor House Hotel and without hesitation she replied 'I'd rather stick pins in my eyeballs', which was a typical riposte which made us love her all the more.
'Because the Annie we knew never lost touch with her Oldham roots and remained down to earth with no airs and graces throughout her life.
'With long-term colleague and friend Bill Roache she created a truly iconic Corrie couple. The ups and downs of Ken and Deirdre's relationship kept the nation gripped for decades.
'And in Deirdre, Anne created one of the truly great characters not just in the history of Coronation Street but, I believe, in the entire history of British television.'
Corrie wedding: Deirdre Hunt (Anne Kirkbride) weds Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) in 1975 - the first of her four marriages in the soap
He described her as 'a consummate professional' who had the gift of making everyone feel special around her.
He said: 'On behalf of everyone who works at Coronation Street, everyone who worked with Anne during her amazing 42 years with us, and on behalf of the many millions of viewers across the UK and around the world who have followed the programme and Deirdre throughout those years, Annie we thank you for bringing so much light, laughter and love into all our lives for all those years.'
In an eulogy from her brother, John, read by family friend Philip Hampson, he remembered growing up with his sister who he called Dips.
She would make the mundane seem mysterious and the dull appear delightful, he told the congregation.
And Dips continued to spread that 'magic' to her nephews, Samedi and Alphin, he added.
He said: 'All Dips ever wanted to do was make people happy, and everything she did she did with so much love.
'The world was a better place when Dips was in it and now that she's gone to another, even more beautiful, place it's up to those of us who were privileged to have been loved by her to continue her legacy.'
Yesterday, Anne's long-term on-screen husband William Roache paid tribute to the late star while speaking outside Manchester Cathedral.
He said: 'It's very, very strange because we're actually filming the funeral of Deirdre and I had a scene as Ken where I'm given Deirdre's glasses but of course Annie wore them for 30 years so you certainly don't need any motivation for the acting. We're always on the verge (of tears).
'It is a family and doing the funeral that we're doing of Deirdre next week, Annie will be there, we're just feeling her there the whole time…
'I know I have never heard a single bad word or criticism about Annie, you couldn't. I used to call her a love bomb because she exploded with love so she was a love bomb. She liked that.'
Roache also reflected on Anne's incredible sense of humour and said that laughter will be a big part of her memorial service.
He said: 'There was always a laugh waiting from Annie, whatever we were doing.
'The more serious it was, the more likely there was going to be a laugh and tomorrow at her memorial service there'll be laughter.'
Loss: The service began at 11.30am at Manchester Cathedral today and Coronation Street fans were seen gathering outside before it started
Emotional farewell: Today's tribute was testament to the amount of lives that she touched in more than four decaded on the screen
Past and present co-stars: Chris Bisson (left), who played Vikram Desai on Coronation Street from 1999 to 2002, and Dean Fagan (pictured with his partner, right), who currently plays Luke Britton on the show
Saying goodbyes: Jennie McAlpine (left), who plays Fiz Brown on the ITV soap, and long-serving cast member Malcolm Hebden (right), who plays character Norris Cole
Current stars: Cherylee Houston, who plays Izzy Armstrong, and Alex Bain who plays Simon Barlow, arrive to pay their respects to the icon
Much loved: Anne played Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street for 43 years. Above, she appears in a scene with on-screen husband Ken Barlow, played by William Roache in 2014
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