“Mum called me late that evening,” her son said quietly. “Her voice was soft, but steady. She said, ‘Son… my time is running out. I want you to know I love you — and I’m ready.’”
Those words, he admitted, shattered him.
“It felt like the world stopped. She wasn’t scared — she was calm, peaceful. She wanted me to know she’d made her peace with everything.”
The revelation has stunned millions of fans who grew up with Barbara as a constant presence in their homes. From The Kabin to the famous cobbled streets of Weatherfield, Rita Tanner wasn’t just a character — she was a friend, a confidante, a reflection of life’s laughter and heartbreaks.
But behind her radiant smile and decades of television glory, Barbara was quietly battling time. Sources close to the family say she’d been reflecting deeply on her life, reconnecting with loved ones, and cherishing the fans who’ve stood by her through every storyline and triumph.
“She’d say, ‘I’ve had my share of goodbyes on screen — now it’s my turn to write the real one,’” a close friend revealed. “That was Barbara — always poetic, always brave.”
The nation’s reaction has been one of collective grief and gratitude. Tributes are pouring in from fellow cast members, fans, and TV legends alike — many calling Barbara “the beating heart of Coronation Street” and “a woman who made every scene matter.”
Online, the messages are endless:
“She was part of our lives. I can’t imagine Corrie without her.”
“Her words broke me — but what a beautiful, dignified woman she is.”
Even as her health faded, Barbara remained fiercely devoted to her craft. Insiders say she continued visiting the Corrie set long after she was advised to rest, insisting, “The show must go on — it always does.”
Her son’s account of that final, heart-wrenching phone call now stands as a testament to her grace and strength — a reminder that even in goodbye, Barbara Knox gave us something unforgettable: honesty, love, and courage.
“She told me, ‘Don’t be sad when I’m gone — just promise to remember me when you hear laughter on a quiet night.’”
And Britain will. For decades to come. 
