What a sad start to the week it was when we learned
of the shocking news that Anne Kirkbride had passed away. The intervening days
have been filled with well deserved and fitting tributes and outpourings of
respect, admiration and love for the actress who, for over 40 years, touched so many lives
both as Anne, and in the form of Deirdre Barlow.
Much has already been beautifully articulated by
others who lament her passing, but I would like to add my own humble
contribution to remembering her. I didn't know Anne, but I knew Deirdre Barlow well.
As viewers and media alike looked back on her character this week, recurring highlights have included Deirdre's relationship with Blanche, her marriages
to Ray Langton, Ken Barlow and Samir Rachid, her affair with Mike Baldwin, her incarceration
at the hands of Jon Lindsay and the public campaign to “Free the
Weatherfield One”. All are examples of great Coronation Street
Deirdre began 2014 in the absence of Ken, and having
her house deliberately trashed by Tracy and Rob to make her fear living alone, and
agree to Rob moving in. She was canny enough to realise who the culprits were
straight away, and despite being furious, allowed Rob to move in anyway, but on
her terms. This act would set the tone for a year which saw her put those she
loved before herself while at the same time taking action and making decisions as
she saw fit.
Deirdre Barlow took centre stage last year, and to
my mind embodied the best qualities of the Coronation Street
What made Deirdre the everywoman who was so
easy to identify with was the normalcy she maintained against the soapland backdrop
of murder, deception and false imprisonment. She was an ordinary woman reacting
ordinarily in extraordinary circumstances, and this is where the realism in any good soap must be found.
Alongside her sacrifices and
hardships, her grounded nature and representation permitted the motherliness at
her core to shine through like a beacon. Allowing Rob to get some ‘posh crisps’
from the cupboard after recovering Uncle Albert’s medal, and preparing a parcel
for rehab-bound Peter containing his
Easter egg and a threaded needle are small but beautiful and very important
details which brought her to life, conveyed who she was, and were central to why so many could relate to her, loved her, and
felt they knew her, as she was representative of many beloved women in our own
lives who we know would do the very same.
To these lovely details we can add
her marrow, her belts, her sneaky ciggies, her pottery, her glasses and her special trifle, for
after all, no matter what happens to us, these are the details that make up who
we are, that constitute a life. Across her 42 years on Coronation Street, that life played out alongside
ours, and this is a remarkable and very special thing.
Deirdre’s
visits to Liz in The Rovers were another endless source of joy for me. I can see her with a glass
of red in front of her at the side of the bar, pondering how wine is not
quite the same without pork scratchings, and confiding, sharing, laughing and
chatting about life with her best friend. This was one of Deirdre’s pleasures, and consequently ours.
It's hard to imagine Coronation Street without Deirdre Barlow, but she leaves a very special legacy in that it is not just made up of memories, but the sense of what it was to know her. For a fictional character to leave not just recollections but feelings is a testament to Anne, and we have her to thank for the gift of Deirdre, a woman who illuminated both our televisions and our lives.
May she rest in peace.
By Emma Hynes
Twitter: @ELHynes
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All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Smashing tribute. Left me silently weeping for the umpteenth time this week. Deirdre joined Coronation Street in the year of my birth. She's been there my whole life and I can't begin to imagine Weatherfield without her.
ReplyDeleteI've long championed Deirdre as Queen of the Street, she had it all, drama, tragedy, humour and a heart as big as an ocean. Deirdre, I'll miss you terribly.
Deirdre came into her own this last year when she was Ken-free and most of us were hoping that she'd stay strong after his return. Tragically, we'll never see what future had in store for them. I do regret that Deirdre and Liz didn't have more scenes together. They should have been having disgraceful nights out, feeling thoroughly ashamed in the morning.
ReplyDeleteIt's very early days to be thinking about exit stories but her absence will have to be explained somehow. I wish Deirdre would simply go off into the sunset, leaving Weatherfield for pastures new. However, if we must have a traditional and sombre exit, I'd love Deirdre to have arranged an amazing wake at the Rovers along with a team of male strippers.
Great tribute! Thanks Emma! :)
ReplyDeleteLets hope that part of the legacy is that Tracy turns her life around and stops behaving like a physco bitch with everyone. Approaching middle age, she is the next matriach up in the chain. If what is left of the Barlows is to survive in the Street then Tracy's behaviour seriously has to change now or the Barlows just have to go I am afraid. Without Blanche or Dierdre there will be little point to them any longer.
ReplyDeleteI hope they eventually store Deirdre's ashes in one of her home-made pots.
ReplyDeleteI've watched Deirdre since 1980. I loved her at the corner shop where she worked for many years (much better than sour faced sophie) and people used to come in and chat. I agree that she came into her own in 2014 whilst Ken was Way. I'm wondering if the writers had started to write Annies real personality into Deirdre at this time. She was certainly written as more of a comedy character than had previously been. I was a bit suprised when Liz came back last year the writers completely ignored her friendship with Deirdre. The Last time we saw Liz she was Deirdres best friend but when she returned she didnt even mention her. It's a shame that the writers are so inconsistent these days that they ignore much of the history of the characters. It appears that Beverley Callard and Anne Kirkbride were best friends in real life as she held her hand til the very end. I hope Deirdres passing will be quick and simple and not overly dramatised. A few kind words from the older members of the street will suffice, like Emily, Roy, Audrey, Gail, Eileen. She was closest with Eileen and Liz mainly and Emily was like a surrogate Mum .
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute Emma, thank you. All the memories of what Deidre was about and her story lines from the small to the big came flooding back.
ReplyDeleteMy earliest memories of Coronation Street are in fact of Deidre when she confronted Ray's bit on the side in the cafe and then threw him out. Later when the lorry crashed into the Rovers and Deidre feared Tracey was under the rubble. I was a little girl and I remember being on the edge of my seat and scared!
I also loved her in the corner shop with Alf. She had real warmth and great and people chit chatted.
The Barlow's won't ever be the same. The family will seem empty without her. It already does if you notice.
I have to agree with Frosty, Tracy needs to change now, perhaps she could meet someone who will turn her life around and give her some purpose ( it nearly happened with Rob) or I'm afraid it will really will be the end of the Barlows.
ReplyDeleteLovely, funny Deirdre.
ReplyDeleteOur Lady of the Barge and Wendy flamin' Crozier couldn't hold a candle to her ~ none of your pretentious pussyfooting around for this woman of the North. Although, if I'd been writing for her, I wouldn't have made her pottery dodgy. I'd have shown an unexpected talent that rocked the Guardian-clutching Ken back on his heels...showing him that you don't have to float about like The Lady of Shalott to be "artistic". Belts are better than scarves, anyway.
Her sojourn in Wales was hilarious ~ the side-eye she gave Ken as he tried out his Welsh on some random couple....or was it the sheep, I can't quite remember.
Anyway, Emma.....I was fine until you mentioned Peter's Easter egg. No ginnels where I am.....but a quiet backyard in Oz is as good a place as any to shed a few tears for a woman I never met (but I knew, just the same).
Many thanks Emma, for such a lovely, evocative piece.
With regards to Liz's and Deirdre's friendship,I think they became estranged when Peter was arrested for Tina's murder and Liz [along with everyone else] believed he was guilty.Even Emily despite her close friendship with the Barlows took the side of Peter being guilty until proven innocent.That being said,I would like to see perhaps either Carla or Emily take Tracy under their wing to reforn her for the better.
ReplyDeleteOh Emma, I'm crying! You really, really crafted the how and why of Dierdre's impact on so many people's lives. Yes, we don't know Anne but what a gift she gave us, so of course we mourn her passing and wish her peace and her family comfort. XX
ReplyDelete