Coronation Street's Cheryl Murray dies aged 71 as ITV pay tribute

Coronation Street star Cheryl Murrayl has died aged 71, it has been announced.

She played Gail's best friend Suzie Birchall in the long-running soap between 1979 and 1979, before returning for a spell in 1983. 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."

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Cheryl also appeared in the music video for Morrissey's hit song Everyday Is Like Sunday. And she also appeared in Hi-de-Hi! as Joan Wainwright in the fourth series and as Gillian in the 80s BBC comedy series Sorry!

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had her first MS attack while working on Coronation Street. She ended up retiring from acting in 1998 a few years after her diagnosis.

Cheryl died on September 23 last year. 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. "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."