Coronation Street star Barbara Knox suffers a hilarious mishap when she meets a soap legend again in her 90th birthday special

Coronation Street legend Barbara Knox celebrated her 90th birthday on Friday with a one-off ITV special, including a reunion with one of the soap’s most famous names.

The actress, who has played Rita Tanner on the soap since 1962, enjoyed a trip down memory lane and looked back on her time on the cobbles with Bradley Walsh.

During the show, fans also saw a surprise reunion between Barbara and her former co-star Malcolm Hebden, who played legendary Cobbles gossip Norris Cole.

Norris and Rita became known for their hilarious jokes in the Kabin Shop, although Malcolm retired from acting in 2021.

As they chatted on set, Malcolm admitted he had missed the soap and Barbara suggested he come back – unaware that Norris was killed in 2021.

Together again! Coronation Street legend Barbara Knox celebrated her 90th birthday on Friday with a one-off ITV special, including a reunion with one of the soap’s most famous names

Look who it is! During the show, fans were treated to a surprise reunion between Barbara and her former co-star Malcolm Hebden, who played legendary Cobbles gossip Norris Cole

However, Malcolm was more aware of his Corrie fate, quipping: “Come back as a corpse? I’m buried.”

To which Barbara replied: “Did we bury you?” That’s terrible. “Come back as a ghost.”

Malcolm, who first joined the Corrie cast in 1994, also paid tribute to Barbara in a pre-recorded message played during the birthday event.

“Barbara was the glamorous one. “Because of her experience in the theater, she knew how to lead,” he said.

“It was never competitive – most of the time I was the one who got demoted.” But I didn’t mind because that’s how a partnership works. We laughed a lot both on set and off.

“I couldn’t have worked with anyone better, it was a pleasure.”

At the start of the special, Barbara was also reunited with Thelma Barlow, who played Rita’s best friend Mavis Wilton until 1997.

The two were close friends on and off screen, and Thelma recalled the heartfelt moments as they filmed their final scene together.

It’s Norris! Street gossip Norris Cole, played by Malcolm Hebden, 83, returned to Weatherfield after quitting the soap three years ago (pictured on the soap in 2017)

He is dead! As they chatted on set, Malcolm admitted he had missed the soap and Barbara suggested he come back – unaware that Norris was killed in 2021

Happy Birthday: In the documentary, Barbara looked back on her six-decade tenure on the soap alongside former Corrie star Bradley Walsh

“We both ended up crying and went to the coffee room to recover. “The director said we had to do the scene again, but we couldn’t,” she said.

Barbara turned 90 on September 30, but the actress isn’t ready for retirement just yet after signing her contract to continue her iconic role until 2024.

She is now Barbara, the second oldest Corrie actress after 91-year-old Ken Barlow actor Bill Roache.

Barbara is believed to earn a whopping £200,000 a year for her role as Rita.