CORONATION Street favourite Bill Roache has been vilified for revealing his late, much-loved co-star Anne Kirkbride had been an alcoholic and suffered from depression.

While it may not have been his revelation to make, it seems rather unfair to turn on him as he has always spoken about his onscreen wife, Deidre, in loving and admiring terms.

Even making this rather personal news public, he described Anne as a “beautiful person” and spoke movingly about her after her death last May at the age of 60.

Perhaps it was mentioning her depression that upset so many, as if this at least should have remained private. Maybe, though, as he knew her so well, he reasoned that this wasn’t something she would have preferred to keep secret, that people needed to know to help others suffering in the same way.

Whatever the reason, his sentiments seem pure and his affection genuine.