Look who we took in from the street...

Action: the cameraman moves in to see what Corrie star Anne and Chronicle editor David Whaley are looking at in the Chronicle archive.

CORRIE EXCLUSIVE: Oldham actress celebrates 40 years on the cobbles
OLDHAM’S most treasured actress is to be celebrated in honour of her 40-year stint as one of the most famous characters in soapland.

“Deirdre: 40 years on the Street” tells the story of Anne Kirkbride from her early days with Delph Junior Players to her life on the most famous cobbled street in the world.

A whistle-stop tour of Oldham to recapture the memories of her youth brought the star to the workplace of her late father — the Oldham Evening Chronicle offices.

Anne, known to her friends as Annie, spent her childhood visiting the Union Street building with dad Jack Kirkbride — the paper’s cartoonist for many years.

She said: “I’ve got memories of being a happy little girl. He has certainly been with me today,” she said.

Anne (58) was filmed in conversation with Chronicle editor David Whaley as they looked through some of her late father’s original artwork.

And she shed a tear at the edition of the paper that reported his death in October 2006.

In place of his usual cartoon was a blank box, decorated only by his signature.

“That was just so special,” she added.

“So many people commented on that. The family thought it was a brilliant, fitting tribute to him. I know he would have been so proud.”

“Filming this documentary now means I’m as busy as I ever was. But ‘Coronation Street’ is an absolute joy to work on, it’s just been 40 years of amazing experiences from start to finish.”

The documentary is expected to air around late October to early November.


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