SO SAD: Coronation Street legend d!es as show pays tearful tribute

Screen grab of Coronation Street's tribute to director Kay Patrick

Coronation Street has paid a loving tribute to actor turned director Kay Patrick following her d3ath at the age of 84 on Friday (June 5). At the end of the latest episode on Tuesday, (June 30) the show shared an image of the star with the words, “In memory of Kay Patrick 1941-2026.” News of her d3ath was made public on June 24 with her funeral service being held on Monday. Mourners were advised to “leave the formal back clothes at home,” as “Kay would have wanted everyone to dress for comfort!” No cause of d3ath has been reported.She directed more than 250 episodes of the long running ITV soap having joined in 1994 and stayed for 21 years. In an interview, she said: “I was lucky to be there at such extraordinary times.” In 2014, she won huge acclaim for her work on the exit episode of popular character Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, who was leaving the show after 16 years. In the soap, her character chose to take her own life rather than endure the excruciating pain of pancreatic cancer and her d3ath left husband Roy Cropper (David Neilson) devastated. 

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Recalling Kay’s work on the moving episode, Julie said: “The almost holy atmosphere she created in the studio during those last scenes … She instinctively knew that it was a one-take moment, and so just blocked it and shot it with such understated love and sensitivity. It’s entirely down to Kay that those scenes were as raw and memorable as they were.”

More than 10 million viewers tuned in for the episodes and it was widely praised for its handling of the controversial issue.

Alongside Corrie,Kay also worked on nearly all the other big soaps and continuing dramas with stints on Emmerdale, Brookside, Holby City, and EastEnders on her CV.

She began her career as an actor appearing in Doctor Who in the 1960s opposite the First Doctor William Hartnell. She also had a role in Z-Cars.

Kay Patrick helmed the moving Hayley Cropper d3ath scene in Coronation Street (Image: ITV)

The actress later realised she wanted to work more closely with writers and pivoted to a directorial debut. She learned her trade working on the BBC Radio 2 soap Waggoners’ Walk from 1971.

Tributes flooded in for the star as people learned the sad news. Former Coronation Street star Lisa George, who played Beth Trinker on the soap, penned: “Awwww I loved Kay- worked with her quite a bit and just felt so safe in her hands. I thought she was amazing xxx

Another friend added: “So saddened to hear about Kay’s passing. It was an honour to know her. Such a kind, lovely lady and a cat lover to boot! Kay was so loved and respected by all who worked on Coronation Street. Rest in peace, Kay.”

Meanwhile a third simply chimed in: “I’m so sorry to hear about Kay. It was a pleasure to know her. Xx.”er. Xx.”

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