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SOAP legend Liz Dawn has revealed that her decision to leave Coronation Street last year saved her life.

The actress, 69, who played loud-mouthed Vera Duckworth for 34 years, was forced to quit after struggling with the chronic lung disease emphysema.

And in an exclusive interview to mark the first anniversary of Vera’s death, Liz revealed she was so stressed in her final months on the show that she was suffering panic attacks that left her unable to breathe.


But once she left, the terrifying bouts disappeared and she is now thoroughly enjoying retirement — spending her time on cruises and at her Spanish holiday home.

She said: “Leaving the show really did save my life.

“It’s removed a lot of stress from me. If I was due in at work, I’d get up in the morning and then start to panic while I was getting dressed.

Terrifying

“I’d even have panic attacks at work. I’d walk off set and sit in my dressing room and just gasp. It was terrifying — you can’t get your breath and when you’re breathless to start with that’s an awful feeling. Just being able to potter about and relax has made life easier.”

Liz was diagnosed with emphysema seven years ago after smoking 30 cigarettes a day for more than 50 years.


The condition still means she has only one third of her lung capacity and she struggles to walk more than a few steps.

But it was only last year that she finally succumbed to pressure from her family — husband Don Ibbotson and children Graham, 50, Dawn, 43, Anne, 41 and Julie, 40 — to quit the show that made her a household name.

In touching scenes watched by millions last January, Vera peacefully passed away in her favourite armchair in her front room. It followed a perfect day out in Blackpool with husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey, 67.

Speaking for the first time after leaving the ITV1 show, Liz — presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 British Soap Awards — said: “I’ve been on four cruises this last year, which isn’t bad is it?

“I’ve also been on holiday to Spain six times. If I get a cold or chest infection it’s bad news, so I’ve got to look after myself and the sea air is good for me.”

Yet the Yorkshirewoman famed for her “Ta-ra, chuck” catchphrase admits the past year has been tough at times.

She confessed: “I have ups and downs. I can get out of breath just looking in a wardrobe for my clothes. On the cruises I never get off the ship. I’d be the perfect candidate to do a stairlift commercial!”

Liz, who is under the care of consultant Ashley Woodcock at the North West Lung Centre at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Hospital, feared the worst when she was diagnosed. The incurable condition is the fifth biggest killer in the UK.

She revealed: “I thought I was going to die, I was in a bad way. Since then I’ve been in hospital twice with pneumonia, the last time in 2006. But the care I’ve received is fantastic. If it flares up I might need steroids, but otherwise I’m OK.”

Liz now hopes to do charity work for the British Lung Foundation — adding to her previous success setting up the Liz Dawn Breast Cancer Appeal.

When she is not doing charity work or relaxing abroad, Liz spends most days with her youngest grandchild Saskia, three.

Obsessed

She is the child of daughter Julie — who married ITV cameraman Tighe Grainger last October with Saskia as bridesmaid.

Liz chuckled: “I’m obsessed with her. I’ve got four other grandchildren but I worked while the others were growing up.

“Now I see Saskia nearly every day and don’t have to worry about where I have to be. My diary used to be my bible, but now I just use it for people's birthdays.”

Liz — born Sylvia Butterfield in the front room of her parents’ council house in Leeds — made her Weatherfield debut in 1974. The stint as factory worker and shameless gossip Vera was meant to be just a minor part.

But she fast became a favourite, and five years later Street bosses introduced her hen-pecked husband Jack. They became one of the show’s most enduring double acts.

This week the grieving widower was seen in tears at Tyrone and Molly’s wedding, wishing Vera was by his side. Liz admitted: “I do miss Bill hugely — I still keep in touch.

“He could always make me laugh. When I died in the chair, the director asked me to try not to breathe.

“Bill said, ‘Oh don’t worry, I’ll throw my overcoat over her so you can’t see the breaths’. I thought, ‘Thank goodness for that.’

Liz still devotedly tunes in to Corrie three nights a week.

She said: “I think it goes from strength to strength.

“Now I’m not learning lines I’ve time to watch them all — Holby City, EastEnders and Casualty. But my favourite will always be the Street.

“I felt sad watching Tyrone’s screen wedding. It would have been nice to be there. I left for the right reasons and I don’t have any regrets, but when it’s a special storyline like that, I do miss everyone.”


The Sun




Its good to hear she is a lot better now

[Ellis]

I'm glad she's enjoying her retirement.