74-year-old actress Shirley Stelfox, best known for playing Edna Birch on the popular ITV soap Emmerdale, has sadly lost her life to cancer.
Shirley passed away at her home yesterday, with her daughter Helena by her side.
She had played the character Edna Birch for the last 15 years.
ITV executive producer, John Whiston, said: “The family here at Emmerdale are deeply saddened by Shirley’s passing, it is hard to imagine Emmerdale without her.