Coronation Street favourite Vera Duckworth is to be killed off in a storyline to be screened early next year, ITV announced today.

The soap’s producers are so keen to keep the character’s cause of death under wraps that three alternative endings have been written and the her departure will be filmed in secret.

Liz Dawn, who has played Vera for more than three decades, is leaving the show due to ill health, admitting she is barely able to walk across the set.

A long-time smoker, she was diagnosed with lung disease emphysema five years ago and almost collapsed while at Buckingham Palace to collect her MBE in 2000. Only a third of her lungs still work and she takes a medication daily, and uses three inhalers. The 68-year-old actress quit smoking in 2002 after her diagnosis.

The decision to kill off the character was taken after consultation between producer Steve Frost, executive producer Kieran Roberts and Dawn. They decided it was better to have a dramatic finale rather than compromise the characters of Vera and her husband Jack by having Dawn come back for occasional guest appearances.

Dawn said: "It is going to be very emotional filming Vera's death scenes but I do think it is the right decision for the character.

"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."

Steve Frost said: "After discussions with Liz Dawn we have settled on a heart-breaking exit story which will see Vera leave Coronation Street in 2008.

"Liz's contribution to Coronation Street has been quite remarkable.

"She has played Vera, one of the most loved characters on British television, for 33 years and she will be missed enormously, by everyone who works with her on the show and by millions and millions of viewers.

"It has been a great privilege to work with Liz and I wish her a very happy and very well-deserved retirement."

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