I've just come back from my Sunday morning trip to the newsagent for the Sunday papers where one of the tabloids screamed on the front page that Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) is leaving Coronation Street due to ill health. I quickly checked the news websites as soon as I returned home and sadly, this news appears to be true.
The BBC reports the story from The News of the World that Liz Dawn is indeed leaving Corrie after 34 years, before Christmas this year. The 68-year-old actress has the lung disease emphysema and, according to the paper, has told Granada she is too sick to continue. She said she wanted to "thank everyone" for "the best time of my life" during her years in the popular soap.
Producers would not say how Ms Dawn is to be written out of her £200,000 role, but said she would continue to make guest appearances on the show. Jack Duckworth, played by Bill Tarmey, will remain in the soap.
She said: "It's been an amazing 34 years. I'd like to thank everyone for what has been the best time of my life." Coronation Street executive producer Kieran Roberts said: "After 34 years as Vera, Liz has taken a decision to relax and enjoy her retirement. We're currently devising storylines for her character's departure for Weatherfield but we would prefer not to reveal details at this moment. We're indebted to her for all she has achieved during her years as Vera Duckworth. She is a star and is loved by ITV. We will always miss this wonderful lady and first-rate actress and we are delighted that she's agreed to return to the soap in the future."
Sad news indeed. I know Vera Duckworth hasn't been much used over the last year or so, but still, it feels like it's the end of an era.
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Oh dear. The end of an era indeed. I could weep. I wish Liz a long and happy retirement. You will be missed.
The end of an era for Corrie, although I wonder how much of a difference we will notice. She hasn't been in it much in recent years and she is still going to make guest appearances every so often. I would have thought Vera is going to have a stroke or something similar and end up in a nursing home. Could be a very interesting and moving storyline, especially seeing how Jack copes with it.
This is very sad news. I'd like send Liz Dawn best wishes and hope she has improved health soon.
What terribly sad news. Liz Dawn has been a central asset to Coronation Street for many many years and it is tragic to watch the decline of someone who was always so full of life, energy and passion.
I know that the chances of Ms Dawn reading this are non-existant, but I would just like to say thank you for keeping me entertained over however many years, and more importantly for putting a smile on my face, and a real smile at that!
Awww she's one of my favourite characters but this news isn't really unexpected. Emphysema is a debilitating disease. It will be nice if she is able to do guest appearances so even if she can't, that must mean they won't have her die. Maybe as someone suggested, she'd be in a nursing home. Jack will be lost without his Vee.
All I can say is thank you Liz for the drama and humour you brought as Vera. Now just look after yourself.
The news actually broke yesterday afternoon with a story on ITV Teletext, before it then spread to the DS forums.
I think it is a sad time for the street as a whole. However, the plans in place are all wrong. She should leave and not come back. Guest appearances would not work and a character like Vera deserves a fitting end, rather than coming back here and there and having a much smaller exit after that.
I also think now is the time for Bill Tarmey. They should both die, within a couple of weeks of each other, like you hear about in the papers and what actually happened to my mum's grand parents.
However, i did read someone that they move to sheltered housing which would be a bad idea in my opinion.
Completely disagree with everything you've said, Peter. Bill Tarmey is generally in good health and can easily go on.
Anyway, at the moment I don't think that we should speculate at all about the Duckies' future, it's time to thank Liz Dawn for her hard work over the years.
That makes a change!
For me they are a partnership first and foremost and i think the end is due for both. I cannot see how Vera's character can be sustained that will not have a negative impact on her character over the long term.
I want to remember Vera Duckworth as the character she has been, not by some half-hearted exit storyline that will surely be dominated by ill health for the character.
Speculation is ineviatable with any soap characters exit particularly one of Vera's stature.
All I have to say is that while both Liz and Bill are alive and kicking (albeit not kicking as hard!) then they have a place in Coronation Street.
I'll miss Vera, her and Jack have been the source of much comedy these past weeks
Very sad- its an end of an era! Vera Duckworth will go down as one of the Greatest Coronation street characters - she will be joining the likes of Bet, Annie, Elsie, Ena ,Len, Mike, Alf, Albert, Stan & Hilda.
Vera should be given a fitting ending and go out on a high, to reflect the 33 years she has appeared.- Give her a departure like Hilda's!!
Can we have a Vera Duckworth appreciation day!
I would like to add my two-penny worth here.
It's a very sad occasion that Vera is to leave and Liz Dawn & Bill Tarmey have brought us the brilliant combination of both comedy and drama as the inevitable Jack & Vera. In August they'll be celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary (which I hope is remembered by Corrie execs and could provide us with a beautiful episode). This is a milestone for any soap as no characters have ever reached this far down the line of marriage.
However, Vera isn't Vera without Jack and vice versa and I reckon that if one is to leave it should be by death. If Bill was to leave as well, then a happy ending should be on the cards but, so far, this isn't happening. It just won't be the same knowing that Jack is on screen and Vera will be elsewhere. Hinge goes with Bracket, Laurel goes with Hardy, Keith Harris goes with Orville (OK so that's a little bit of a joke). I could go on and on but the fact remains, Jack goes with Vera.
I hope I've made sense of this for you all to understand. I don't particularly want either of them to die but if a believable ending is required, then death should be the answer.
It is hard to even think of Liz Dawn as being in poor health, because her character is so strong and vibrant. I'm sad to hear the news.
Sad news indeed. Thank-you Liz Dawn for many a laugh and countless smiles over the years. The open door of return visits means TPTB won't have Vera die which I would hate. There has been too many deaths on the street in the last few years anyway. I think the story could be worked were Vera is (off screen) in a nursing home and Jack stays on the street, boarding with someone, dishing out advise to the younger men on dealing with women, placing bets etc. and going to see Vera (taking time off). Bill Tarmey should be allowed to do what is best for him. Wish Liz improved health and a long retirement.
Working on my till in M&S today, someone bought the paper and I had to ask if I could have a read.
I really am devastated.
Devastasting, pure and simple. One of the most entertaining characters ever on British television has definitely been Vera (and Jack of course, as the two come as a pair). Liz Dawns comic timing was impeccable and when strong emotional scenes were required of her, she delivered them with such immense realism that you really felt for the character (think back to when Terry sold her grandson or when Jack had his heart operation).
Its the end of an era because she was old school corrie, from an era where strong Northern women outshone their male counterparts and provided a realistic insight into working class lives like no other. I'll remember so fondly her toils with Terry, her friendship with Ivy, her years as Baldwins foil at the factory, her stint as Rovers Landlady.....so many. But most of all, it was any scene with Jack. They could be sitting in the backroom just talking about nothing, but it was always compulsive viewing, because you knew these people, you shared their lives on screen.
Thanks for so many happy memories Liz. Its a sad day for your many fans. Take it easy and enjoy ur well deserved retirement ;-)
... greetings, all!
... unfortunately , life journeys ... especially those not of our choosing ... are a part of life ... and whilst I concur with a lot of what my fellow poster, Paul, has shared ... we part company on his thoughts pertaining to death being a believable ending. Life has taught me many things ... one of them being that none of us is promised tomorrow ... but it has also taught me that there are many faces to love ... and for all the mirth that Jack and his little swamp duck have brought us over the years ... I can't imagine any one of us denying that they love one another. I suggest that it is not out of the realms of possibility that a storyline with Vee being confined to a nursing or convalescent home for health reasons and Jack remaining on the cobbles but visiting her regularly ... and perhaps, health permitting ... Vee visiting the cobbles from time to time ... would mirror many a love story/life journey shared by many a fellow Streetie and/or their parents/loved ones. Do you think, Paul ... and fellow posters ... that this too might be a believable storyline? ... for it rings true to me ... not of an ending ... but just another journey of their lives together.
... meant to add:
... very eloquently put, Brian ... in my minds eye, I can see many a Streetie nodding their heads in agreement as they read your post ... count me amongst them.
... I also found Matt's post rather moving ... I, too, feel devastated, Matt, as I am sure do countless others.
How sad. I really hope the writers have something special planned for Jack and Vera's 50th wedding anniversary in August. Vera is a Corrie legend and will be remembered for many years to come. Thanks Liz! Hope you enjoy your retirement, you certainly deserve it.
I agree with Peter. The characters of Jack and Vera are both way past their sell-by dates and their storylines have been very weak. I think both actors should have retired a long time ago.
Unhappy news for J&V fans. There are 22 comments (now 23) on this post, a testament to how much the fans care about Liz Dawn. (I wonder if this is a record) I, for one, have always appreciated the talents she brought to to CS.
She is of the old-school corrie talents -- honed her craft over many, many years before she walked the cobbles. I wish her healh and joy.
There's going to be more than a few Vera-related posts coming up this week on Corrieblog!
VERY SAD TO HEAR VERA IS LEAVEING IT TO THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR JACK AND VERA TO LEAVE TO GETHER AND IN LINE WITH A FEW OTHERS THINK IT SHOULD BE A FIANALE END I DOUBT BILL TARMERY WILL WANNA CARRY ON MUCH LONGER HAS JACK SO MAYBE THEY COULD EITHER WIN THE BIG LOTTO AND RETIRE TO THE SUN OR VERA COULD END UP GOING INTO DEMENIA AND THEY COVER THIS SOTRYLINE
I will miss Vera very much. This is sad news indeed. I was half expecting it though. Liz Dawn hasn't been in the show alot recently and they are always coming up with excuses for her absence - like her flu the other day. It certainly is the end of an era. I wish Liz Dawn a long and happy retirement.
Terribly sad to hear that Liz Dawn is unwell.. and agree with Matt, that both Jack and Corrie will be very different without Vera. I recently had the incredible pleasure to have a wonderful lunch at Liz Dawn's pub while staying in Manchester. While taking in the photographs that document so much Coronation Street History, remarked how important the Duckies have been to Coronation Street. We will miss her terribly, but believe she deserves to enjoy her retirement. She has given us so much. My husband, children, and I would have loved to have met you Vera.
So very sorry Miss Dawn is unwell and with such a nasty disease....have enjoyed her performances as Vera thru these many years. The street will not be the same without her and I wish her a long and happy retirement
Very sorry to hear that Liz Dawn is leaving. There have been some very strong female characters that have helped to build Corrie to the popular soap it is today - and Vera comes high on the list. I wish Liz a long and happy retirement. Will look forward to her visits back to the street.
I wish Liz Dawn the best but I would hate to see them separate Jack and Vera...they should make her parting very memorable and touching...I don't know if I would like to see Jack on coronation street without his vera..
Hi, I have watched Corrie from about when it started, Vera will be very missed, it is very sad she has such bad health, I wish her well, and thank her from the bottom of my heart, for keeping us all amused, for soooooo long, God Bless you girl.
Best regards Patsy. ps, I wish I had had the chance to meet her.