Corrie veteran Knox 'takes sick leave'

Coronation Street star Barbara Knox is being written out of the show for six weeks due to health reasons, according to reports today.

The veteran actress, who plays shopkeeper Rita Sullivan on the ITV1 soap, is believed to have requested the time off during a meeting with producers on Thursday.

A Weatherfield insider told the Sunday Mirror: "Barbara felt bad that she had to go, but she explained it was in no way a serious health issue and that she'd be back.

"We had no option but to rewrite storylines and also shoot a scene in the Rovers Return to explain why she wouldn't be around for a while."

Knox, 75, made her debut as Rita in 1972, making her one of the programme's longest-serving cast members.

It is currently unclear how writers will explain the character's unexpected absence.