Heartfelt tributes paid to Emmerdale actress Shirley Stelfox

Tributes have been paid to Emmerdale actress Shirley Stelfox, who has died following a short battle with cancer.

The 74-year-old, who had played Edna Birch for the last 15 years, passed away peacefully at home on Monday with her daughter Helena by her side, said Associated International Management.

New of her death was met with heartfelt tributes and messages, with colleagues and fans taking to Twitter to express their grief.

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.

"We offer our condolences to Shirley's family and share our feeling of loss with the millions of viewers who will miss Edna enormously."

Emmerdale's Verity Rushworth, who left the soap last year, was first to lead the condolences.

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Actress Kathy Burke paid tribute to her with a picture of her and her late husband, writing: "RIP Beautiful Shirley Stelfox seen here with love of her life Don Henderson."

Shirley was married to fellow actor Don Henderson from 1979 up until his death in 1997.

Over the years Shirley’s Emmerdale character has been involved in a number of memorable and dramatic storylines.

Shirley made her first screen appearance as Edna in May 2000. Edna was known for her iconic hats which she was rarely seen without.

In 2003 Shirley was left devastated when her character’s dog Batley died. At the time she said: "When Batley the dog died, I wept for days. Stupid, isn't it? I can't play it off the top of my head.”

That same year viewers watched as she collapsed after dealing with secret financial problems.

In June 2004 she was the victim of a hit and run while walking new dog Tootsie, which left her with a broken hip. Adding to the drama she was robbed as she lay lifeless in the ditch.

Other memorable storylines include her revealing that her late husband Harold was gay and in 2014 her home was robbed – along with her pension.

You may remember her from...

• RADA trained Shirley also played the first Rose in Keeping Up Appearances.

• Viewers may also remember her playing Jane Healy – the mother of Melanie – in an episode of EastEnders.

• She also played Julie Walters and Victoria Wood’s mum in TV movie Pat and Margaret.

• Her best known film role however was playing the $2 prostitute in a movie adaption of George Orwell’s 1984- alongside acting heavyweights John Hurt and Richard Burton.