Jean Alexander has passed away aged 90.
Jean Alexander in 2005
The woman known to millions as 'Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden passed away peacefully in hospital on Friday (14.10.16), just three days after her 90th birthday.
The television legend had been feeling unwell for a few days and had gone to the hospital for some tests, but on Tuesday (11.10.16), was taken back to hospital after she hadn't noticed any change in her condition.
Jean's niece Sonia Herald told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It is such a shock. She had been feeling a little poorly and had gone in for some tests. But on Tuesday she was still not too good and it was decided she might be better going back into hospital."
Sonia, along with her sister Valerie Thewlis, received a phone call to inform them of their aunt's passing, and were left to break the news to their father - Jean's brother - 91-year-old Kenneth Hodgkinson. The three are the only relatives of Jean, who never married and instead dedicated her life to her work.
Sonia added: "I saw her last week and she seemed weak and a bit tired but this was still a shock. The hospital phoned me and said they were very sorry but Jean had passed away."
The news comes after the star suffered a stroke in 2014, but was quickly back on her feat, telling fans not to worry as there was "so much" she still wanted to do with her life.
She said previously: "Don't worry, I am fit and well, but thank you so much for your goodwill messages.
"I suffered a very slight stroke but I hope to be back in the garden in no time at all.
"I've spent my career playing old ladies - now I am one.
"Don't write me off yet, there's still so much I plan to see and do."
Jean's portrayal of Britain's best loved cleaner Hilda Ogden - whom she played for 23 years from 1964 until 1987 - made her a household name, and even saw her receive a Best Actress nomination at the 1987 BAFTAs. In 1985, she won a Royal Television Society Award for her performance on the show.
In 2005, the UK TV Times poll voted Jean as the "greatest soap opera star of all time".
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