A tribute was paid to Kay Patrick at the end of the latest episode of the ITV soap
Coronation Street pays tribute to Kay Patrick(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street has paid an on-screen tribute to one of its former directors at the end of the latest episode, following the sad news of their death.
It was announced that Kay Patrick, who directed more than 250 episodes of the ITV soap, died aged 84 earlier this month. She is said to have passed away on June 2, with the news later announced on June 24 along with details of her funeral.
At the end of Tuesday’s (June 30) episode, a tribute to Kay appeared on screen with a picture of the late director and the words: “In memory of Kay Patrick 1941-2026.”
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Kay joined Corrie in 1994 and worked there for 21 years. During her two decades working on the long-running show, she directed the heartbreaking final episode of beloved Weatherfield legend Hayley Cropper, played by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh.
After Julie, who hails from Accrington, announced her departure from the show in January 2013, her exit aired the following year in heartbreaking scenes as Hayley took her own life in Roy’s arms in January 2014 by drinking a lethal cocktail after living with terminal pancreatic cancer.
Corrie paid an on-screen tribute to Kay Patrick(Image: ITV)
Juleie previously praised Kay for her work on her final episodes, saying in a past interview: “The almost holy atmosphere she created in the studio during those last scenes… She instinctively knew that it was a one-take moment, and so just blocked it and shot it with such understated love and sensitivity. It’s entirely down to Kay that those scenes were as raw and memorable as they were.”
Kay previously starred in two episodes of Doctor Who, alongside the first-ever actor to play the Time Lord, William Hartnell. Director Christopher Barry also gave her roles in Ann Veronica and Z-Cars during the 1960s.
However, she turned to directing in the 70s after joining BBC Radio, starting with the daily soap opera Waggoners’ Walk. Before joining Corrie, with her first role as associate producer, she worked on EastEnders, Brookside, Emmerdale and Holby City.