Coronation Street star Dilys Watling has died at the age of 78 after battling a long illness, her family has sadly confirmed.The actress starred on the hit ITV soap as Merle Baker in 1966 and also appeared on comedy shows The Two Ronnies and Morecambe & Wise.
Her work on stage saw her even being nominated for a prestigious Tony Award for Best Leading Actress for her Broadway debut in 1970 musical Georgy.
Her brother, Giles, announced the sad news that she had passed on 10 August, saying: "Dilys was a much-loved sister and was the eldest of the five of us.
She led the way and was a real trailblazer for the rest of us. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.
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