ITV bosses have announced that Vera Duckworth will be killed off next year in a major new Coronation Street storyline.

The scenes will be filmed in secret and fans will have to tune into Vera’s final episodes to find out how she dies.

Liz Dawn, 68, who has played Vera for more than three decades, is leaving the soap due to ill-health.

“It is going to be very emotional filming Vera’s death scenes but I do think it is the right decision for the character,” Dawn said.

“Steve Frost and Kieran Roberts were very respectful about how I would feel about Vera dying and we talked about it at length before we made the final decision.

“I have had 33 marvellous years in Coronation Street and will miss everyone very much,” she said.