More tragedy for the cast of Coronation Street

Both funerals will take place this week.

There has been a second heartbreak for the cast and crew of Coronation Street this week, as crew member and prop man Mike Curtis has died.

The 32-year-old passed away just days after ‘The Weatherfield One’ Anne Kirkbride lost her battle to cancer.

Mike had worked behind the scenes of the hit TV soap for 10 years and was close to many of the cast.

“He was always laughing and joking. His death has left everyone stunned,” a source told the Daily Star.

Mike’s death also followed the news that only a handful of Street stars have been invited to attend Anne Kirkbride’s funeral, who played Deirdre Barlow for four decades.

They include William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken, Johnny Briggs, who was her Street lover Mike Baldwin, Kate Ford, who played daughter Tracy, and Chris Gascoyne, who was her TV stepson Peter.

Others past and present are upset they cannot pay their respects to one of the show’s biggest stars.

“The news that her funeral is to be so private and most people can’t go has left a number of people upset,” the source continued.

"Anne was always a very private person and people understand her family don’t want to turn it into a media event.”

"Behind the scenes it’s as tough a time as anyone can remember."