Coronation Street icon Jean Alexander will take a final bow on the cobbles with Bill Roache tribute
More than 20 million people tuned in to watch her last episode
CORRIE legend Jean Alexander will take a final bow in the soap — nearly 30 years after she quit the Street.
Actress Jean died on Friday, just three days after her 90th birthday.
Her character Hilda Ogden left the cobbles in 1987, with more than 20million people tuning in to watch her departure.
But Hilda’s name will appear in scripts again when news of her death is broken on screen.
Following her death, fans, co-stars and famous faces took to social media to honour the legendary actress.
Coronation Street stalwart Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, 84, is expected to reveal the news to Weatherfield’s residents.
The scenes are expected to be cut into an already-filmed episode.
Last night a source said: “Bosses will want to add in a line or two. Hilda, and Jean, are soap royalty.
"A long-running cast member will deliver the lines and who better than Ken Barlow, in Corrie since it started?”
ITV bosses will look at a memorial service for Jean, who played Hilda from 1964, at Manchester Cathedral.
Hilda Ogden was written out of Coronation Street when she left Weatherfield to live as housekeeper for her boss Dr Lowther.
Fans even mounted a “Save Hilda” campaign in a bid to force actress Jean to change her mind.
The source added: “It would only go ahead after discussions with Jean’s family.
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“It would be a fitting tribute to someone who helped shape Corrie into the national institution it is.
“It would be a massive event and the great and good of Manchester would turn out in their droves to say ‘goodbye’ to Hilda.”