Barbara Knox speaks out on Rita's brain tumour story

Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Tanner in Coronation Street, has spoken out about the brain tumour storyline she's currently playing in the soap.

She said: “When our producer Kate Oates talked to me about the brain tumour storyline for Rita, I was truly honoured to be tasked with taking on such an important story.

"I was immediately determined to ensure that we got every aspect of the portrayal of such a devastating illness correct. The work the team did with Brain Tumour Research has been invaluable. As an actress playing the role I am mindful that there are people going through this in real life and it is vital that we do their stories justice.”

She also tells this week's Inside Soap magazine: "There's a long way to go yet in this storyline for Rita. As we follow her journey from the diagnosis to how she comes to terms with the uncertainty of what the future holds, she has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks."

Coronation Street has been working with Brain Tumour Research on the storyline since the spring. Consultant clinical oncologist, Dr Matt Williams, from the Centre of Excellence at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, has been working closely with Corrie producers to ensure that Rita’s experience is as accurate as possible.

Barbara says: "Until I started working on this story I had no idea that a brain tumour could cause someone to act in the way Rita has been. It can't be just me who was surprised by how it affected Rita, so clearly not enough is known about brain tumours and their symptoms. It's a frightening disease and my thoughts are with everyone affected by a brain tumour.

You can support the work of Brain Tumour Research and find out more here.

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