Coronation Street star admits she was 'desperate' to quit ITV soap for one reason

Coronation Street legend Anne Reid has revealed she was desperate to escape Weatherfield-confessing she was so frustrated during her time on the ITV soap, she felt like she was going mad. The 90-year-old actress was in her twenties when she first joined the long-running series in 1961, playing Valerie Tatlock who would go on to become Ken Barlow's first wife. She portrayed the character until 1971, when Valerie was famously electrocuted by a hairdryer.

Now, more than 50 years later, Anne has admitted she couldn't wait to leave the cobbles behind due to the lack of fulfilling material. Speaking to The Guardian's G2 magazine, she said: "I said, 'I have to go - I'm going mad.'" When asked if she was bored during her time on the soap, she didn't hold back. "Oh yeah! I was so frustrated, I didn't get a laugh in nine years."

Her former on-screen husband, William Roache-who still plays Ken Barlow-is now 93 and remains a regular fixture in the show.

He has been part of Coronation Street since its very first episode in 1960 and continues to appear in major storylines.

Reflecting on his longevity in the role, Anne admitted she couldn't imagine lasting that long herself. "Well, he's pseudo-middle class," she joked.

"God, I don't know how he's stayed in there so long. I would have gone totally bonkers.

"It suits some people, but it doesn't suit me. No! I would have been in the funny farm by now, darling."

Despite her frustrations with the soap, Coronation Street also changed Anne's life off-screen. During her time there, she met her late husband, Peter Eckersley, who worked as a writer and producer on the show.

They married in 1971, the same year their son Mark was born. Tragically, Peter died of cancer in 1981 aged just 45. Anne still finds it difficult to talk about his passing. "He was ill for a very long time.

It was a miracle that he survived that long. We were both 45. Terribly young when I think about it now. I can't really talk about that much. Mark was nine."

Anne later found huge success working alongside Victoria Wood in the BBC comedy Dinnerladies-a collaboration she remembers fondly.

"The relief of working with people like Vic was so lovely," she said. "Sad that she's gone. She could never have imagined that she would die before me. Vic was a huge talent. Absolutely huge!"