Coronation Street icon Cheryl Murray dead at 71 as ITV bosses 'saddened' by loss

Cheryl, who played Suzie Birchall, died in September last year, though the news of her passing has only just been confirmed.

Iconic Coronation Street star Cheryl Murray has died aged 71. The actress played Suzie Birchall - Gail Potter's best friend on the cobbles - between 1977 and 1979, before returning in 1983.

Cheryl also appeared in Smiths legend Morrisey's Everyday is Like Sunday video, playing the eldest daughter of Billie Whitelaw and sister of Smiths fan Lucette Henderson.

Although Cheryl passed away on September 23 last year, the news of her death has only been publicly confirmed today.

ITV said in a statement: "We are saddened to hear of the recent passing of Cheryl Murray, our thoughts are with her family and friends. Her vibrant portrayal of Gail's best friend and Elsie Tanner's lodger Suzie Birchall lived on in the memories of Coronation Street fans long after Suzie left the cobbles for the bright lights of London."

Her death comes just six years after she returned to Weatherfield to take part in a special, reuniting with her old pal with a guest appearance on the ITV documentary Gail and Me: 40 years of Gail on Coronation Street.

Cheryl was also known for her appearance in Hi-de-Hi! as Joan Wainwright in the fourth series and as Gillian in the '80s BBC comedy series Sorry! Cheryl appeared on seventies prison drama Within These Walls and on stage with Stan Boardman in Blackpool.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had her first MS attack while working on Coronation Street. Her condition forced her to retire from acting in 1998, a few years after her diagnosis.

The actress spoke about her diagnosis on many occasions. She said: "MS has never really stopped me doing anything. I get attacks about once a year when I have to go to bed for a few days but I have brilliant doctors who sort me out.

"Between times - apart from being careful with steps because my legs can be a bit wobbly sometimes - I don't think about it very often. Truly, I don't."

She believed she had a virus of the spine when she had her first MS attack. She could barely move and had to crawl to the phone to call for help. She said: "I was in bed in my flat in Manchester when I was suddenly woken up by a tremendous pain in my back, as though knives were being stabbed into me, and found I could barely move," she said. I honestly thought I was dying and crawled to the phone to dial Granada for help."

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.