Tributes have been pouring in for Coronation Street star Barbara Young who has died at the age of 92. The actress, who played Doreen Fenwick in the ITV soap, died on Thursday at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Her musician daughter Liza Pulman announced the sad news on her Facebook and Instagram pages as she thanked the hospital for their care. Tributes have been pouring in for the talented star, who was born in Brighouse in the west Riding of Yorkshire.
Liza penned with a selection of photos of her mother: "Just to let people know, my beautiful, brilliant, opinionated, loud, warm-hearted, talented and singular mother died on Thursday night at 10.30pm. My sister Cory and I were by her hospital bed for 30 hours straight and in the end, as is so often the case, she slipped away in our absence with a beautiful nurse called Mercy (you couldn’t write it) caring for her.
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"The care she received in those last days at Addenbrookes was remarkable - considered, careful and empathetic - and to a person, they all said how much they had loved my mum, how she had made them laugh and how she had always been interested in them. She was 43 years without my father, 30 years without a cigarette and 20 years without a drink but never without a humbug and I like to think that now, she is sitting with my father having a large dry - martini and a cigarette as she can genuinely do what the f*** she wants now.
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She added: "I am my father’s daughter and those who know me well will know that I am never at a loss for words, but today, I have no words to describe how much I will miss her. You did well mum. Safe travels. Barbara Young - Feb 9th 1931-April 27th 2023."
Comedian Dawn French wrote: "Love all around you, sweet L." Actor Michael Jibson, who has starred in the films Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Misérables, said: "So sorry for you." And actor and writer Ian Kelly messaged: "She was a marvel and I adored the time we spent together. Xxx"
On her birthday in February Liza shared a photo of the pair together and wrote: "Happy 92nd birthday to my ridiculously amazing mum."
Barbara had four different roles in Corrie including retired exotic dancer Doreen, an old friend of Rita Sullivan, between February and December 2017. She also played club hostess Betty Ridgeway in July and August 1961, Dorothy Stockwell in February 1982 and Barbara Platt, the mother of Martin Platt in September and October 1991.
In February 2007, Doreen entered The Kabin in search of Rita Tanner, an old friend from her singing days. Despite annoying Rita's friend Norris Cole, their relationship as sparring partners developed into a romance. When Rita was on holiday, Doreen helped out in The Kabin.
After Rita turned down Norris' offer of marriage, he proposed to Doreen, unaware that George Trench and Ivor Priestley, two other husbands of Norris' deceased ex-wife, Angela Hawthorne, had already proposed to her. Doreen said she would consider all their offers, but Norris told her that he was withdrawing his proposal, and Doreen told George and Ivor that she had changed her mind and didn't want to get married again.
Doreen was next heard of when she was due to meet Rita in December 2010, but Doreen cancelled due to illness. This led to a near death experience for Rita after she returned home when a derailed tram crashed into The Kabin, burying her in rubble.
Barbara is also known for her role as the future Emperor Nero's mother Agrippina, in the landmark 1976 BBC drama I, Claudius. She played gossipy yet lovable Sadie Hargreaves Lloyd in Channel Five soap Family Affairs from 1998 until 2005 and in 2008, she made a guest appearance in an episode of the long-running BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.
Following the departure of Kathy Staff from the series in 2008 she joined the regular cast as Nora Batty's sister, Stella. Barbara also appeared in Hollyoaks playing Mags, the grandmother of Scott Sabeka in 2012.
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