Coronation Street veteran Barbara Knox has revealed that although she enjoys the attention of the show’s fans, there are times when they can get a bit too friendly…

While appearing on Lorraine Kelly’s morning show, Barbara, who began playing the role of Rita in 1962, said, “People are very nice, they love the programme, they come up to you and they are so kind.

“They tell you what we should have done, what we might have done, and ‘Why didn’t you…?’

“It’s very nice, actually, because the programme hasn’t got stale. People still love it.

“I do go about and sometimes they grab my arm and say, ‘Come here, you!’ I don’t particularly like that, but I suppose it’s affectionate in a way!”

But when asked if she tends to avoid, for instance, doing her own shopping so as to avoid the over excited fans, Barbara said, “Well, I do [my own shopping] because I think I should.

“At the end of the day, I’m a human being and I have to do my own shopping, and actually it’s very, very nice.”

She added, “It has been about 40 years [for Rita], so people are bound to recognise you.

“If you stay around long enough, I think they come to like you – well, I hope so!”

And finally, of Rita’s recent wedding to Dennis Tanner, who’s played by Phillip Lowrie, Barbara said, “I’ve been very lucky. Lovely stories, lovely people…

“And lovely to have Philip Lowrie back – wonderful.”

Aww I love Barbara as Rita – do you?

Here’s a reminder of some of Barbara’s biggest Corrie storylines…