William Roache has been left devastated after the tragic death of his eldest daughter.
The Coronation Street actor, who has played Ken Barlow for 58 years, is currently on compassionate leave as he attempts to come to terms with his loss.
It’s thought his daughter Vanya, 50, from his marriage to Anna Cropper, died on Friday.
A quote printed in The Sun says: “Bill is utterly heartbroken. No father should have to go through the loss of a child, let alone two.
“ITV are giving him all the time he needs but he’s understandably very upset.
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“After hearing the news on Friday he’s been told to take as long as required. There’s no word just yet on when he’ll return.”
Vanya leaves behind fiance Toby, who she lived with in Chichester, West Sussex.
Her death is the latest blow for ITV soap veteran Bill, who is 85.
His second wife Sara Mottram died in 2009, aged 58.
In 1983, the couple lost their daughter Edwina to pneumonia when she was just 18 months old.
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In an interview, Bill once described the horror of discovering his child had died.
He said: “It was such a shock. I’d never known grief to be such a physical pain.”