Bev Unwin is to return to 'Coronation Street' for Deirdre Barlow's funeral.

Susie Blake

Susie Blake

Susie Blake, who played Rovers Return barmaid Bev from 2003 to 2006, is set to reprise her role later this year in order to pay tribute to her pal, the late Anne Kirkbride.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It's going to be emotional.

"Some of Deirdre's closest friends and her family will be there to pay their respects."

Susie was close friends with Anne, who played Deirdre in the ITV soap for over 40 years, before she tragically lost her battle with cancer earlier this year.

And the 65-year-old actress is one of a number of former castmates who will return in July to bid farewell to both Anne and her character in an on-screen funeral described as the equivalent of a state funeral.

Deirdre's stepson Peter Barlow, who is played by Chris Gascoyne, will also return to Weatherfield for the much loved character's send off.

It was unclear what would happen to Deirdre when the news of Anne's death first broke, however, 'Corrie' producers have since revealed that her husband David Beckett approved of their plan to pay tribute to her with a funeral for her long-running character.

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