Watch the moment 91-year-old Corrie icon Barbara Knox belts out song in rare public appearance at Manchester Pride
91-YEAR-OLD soap legend Barbara Knox made a rare public appearance – and performance – at Manchester Pride this weekend.
Barbara took to the stage and performed in front of packed crowds on Sunday (August 25).
Barbara is best known for starring on the popular soap Coronation Street as Rita Tanner, a role she has held for over 50 years.
The soap legend makes very few public appearances these days, but wanted to join in Manchester’s Pride celebrations this weekend.
And in a surprise turn of events, she even took a turn on the stage.
In videos of the events, Barbara can be seen – and heard – belting out We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.
She performed the song alongside drag queen Belinda Scandal and was also accompanied by Your Manchester presenter Mark Llewellin.
Barbara stood in the centre of the stage and held Belinda and Mark’s hands as she sang her heart out and moved her feet in step with the music.
She was visibly emotional and overwhelmed as she was rewarded with huge cheers from everyone in the audience.
Belinda was thrilled to have Barbara join them on stage.
“I’m still so moved by this today,” they wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the performance.
“A lady of 91 wanted to understand Manchester Pride. So thanks to Mark Llewellin, we arranged the moment and minute this living legend realised she was a legend.
“The most Shabba moment of my career, thanks.”
Outside of her rare public appearances, Barbara is still a regular fixture on the soap and shows no sign of slowing down, having renewed her contract last September.
After appearing in one episode of Corrie back in 1964, Barbara has been a permanent character since 1972 and has now appeared in well over 3,000 instalments of the show.
She is second only to Ken Barlow actor Bill Roache, 91, in the age stakes on the ITV soap.
Barbara Knox's top 5 moments as Rita Tanner
Rita being stalked by Alan Bradley before she disappeared, to be later found in Blackpool. Alan was killed by a tram while chasing Rita
She was trapped in the 2010 tram crash wreckage after it had derailed, causing the tram to come crashing down on the cobbles as part of the show’s 50th anniversary special
Her iconic slagging match with Bet Lynch in 1995
Rita being arrested and charged with assaulting a minor after catching Chesney Brown stealing from her shop
Becoming the custodian of the legendary Kabin newsagents in 1973
Speaking of her contract renewal, an insider told The Sun: “Barbara is in Corrie’s DNA. She is a true pro, and the executives were delighted that she put pen to paper to ensure she’s on screens into next year.
“Corrie is a lovely, steady place to work with a supportive team, so it makes it easy to fit around family, having kids and as the cast have grown older.”