Fans took to Twitter to share their frustration
19:48, 21 Jul 2024Updated 19:49, 21 Jul 2024
Coronation Street fans are convinced that Deirdre Barlow could make a return to TV screens, but viewers have said they would ‘stop watching’ if so. Deirdre, played by Anne Kirkbride, was one of the ITV show’s most iconic characters, making her first appearance back in 1972.
Recognised by her distinctive voice and oversized glasses, she soon became a Weatherfield legend. Her rollercoaster life included a fling with a younger man and tying the knot with Ken Barlow (played by William Roache) giving viewers a mix of drama and entertainment over the years.
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Deidre made her last appearance on the show on October 8, 2014 before Anne took a leave of absence. Following a battle with breast cancer, Anne Kirkbride died in January 2015.
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But fans think she could pop up again as a chilling plotline unfolds with Jane Danson’s Leanne Battersby at the centre. This year, Leanne got lured into a “self-help” gang run by Rowan (Emrhys Cooper). It turned out that Leanne was chatting to an AI digital version of her late son, Oliver, whipped up by The Institute. Lately, Leanne’s been getting Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) involved with the group.
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In the latest episode, aired on July 20, Amy was shown a computer-generated version of her half-brother by Leanne, which left her horrified. But Coronation Street fans have been speculating that an AI version of Amy’s gran, Deirdre, might be a potential storyline. On Reddit, one user posted “As soon as they mentioned Deirdre, I was like please god no, not an AI Deirdre!”
Another fan was said: “That’s the point I would stop watching. Anne Kirkbride died long before actors could sign up for the technology.” A third fan predicted a meltdown for Amy, stating: “I swear if they show Amy AI Deirdre I think that might actually tip Amy over the edge she’s already freaked by Oliver.”
Over on Twitter, the reactions were just as strong, as one Tweet read: “WTF the AI kid is back. They best not AI Deirdre.” Another fan said: “I thought we was about to get AI Deirdre.”