Coronation Street’s Debbie Rush has revealed her son has died, just a week before Christmas.
Debbie, who is 59, is best known for playing Anna Windass in the ITV soap from 2008-2018.
The star confirmed on her Instagram that her son William, 31, died on Wednesday.
In a moving post, the actress wrote: ‘Our beautiful baby boy, William, passed away on 17th December. As a family, our hearts are completely broken, and there are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss.
‘Even in our darkest moment, William gave the most precious gift of all. Through being an organ donor, he has given hope and life to other families, thinking of others right to the very end. His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.
‘We kindly ask that our privacy be respected as we navigate this unimaginable grief. William will always be loved, always missed, and forever in our hearts.’
Debbie’s son William played the role of Josh Stevenson in Waterloo Road from 2009-2013.
The character was the son of Tom Clarkson, who died after falling from the school roof.
The character endured a lot during his time at the school, from realising that he’s gay to a cannabis addiction. This led to him being diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Josh left Waterloo Road in 2013. He moved to Manchester to work at a call centre, and did not return for Tom’s memorial.
Debbie’s Corrie character Anna is the mum of Gary Windass, who is played by Mikey North.
In 2016, Anna was part of a storyline that saw her recover after getting her legs burnt in a car explosion.
That same year, Pat Phelan returned to Weatherfield and ended up marrying Eileen Grimshaw. Anna suspected that Phelan was responsible for many crimes, but could never prove the allegations.
When Phelan framed Anna for pushing Seb off his ladder in 2017, she was convicted of attempted murder. Time behind bars only lasted four months for Anna, as the police discovered Phelan had murdered four people.
Anna was released, and quickly learnt that Phelan was on the run. His life ended when Anna stabbed him. She then left Weatherfield for a new life elsewhere.
