Coronation Street legend Amanda Barrie has opened up about her last ever conversation with showbiz legend Lionel Blair.
The British actor, whose career spanned eight decades, passed away last month at the age of 92 and was "surrounded by his family" at the time of his death.
Carry On icon, Amanda, 86, has been chatting to Daily Star about many of her celebrity friends who had sadly died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As she remembered many of her chums she recalled her final hilarious conversation with the Canadian-born actor.
Amanda explained she hadn't had the opportunity to say goodbye to many people she'd held dear in her life during the coronavirus lockdown – including her fellow on-screen husband Johnny Briggs and EastEnders national treasure Barbara Windsor.
Due to the restrictions that were in place at the time, numbers of attendees for funeral were massively restrictive.
Speaking about friends who had past during this time, Amanda said: "I hadn't seen Johnny for ages. And Barbara and Lionel I was still in touch with."
The soap star added: "In fact, I did make people laugh because two weeks before Lionel died he rang me and said: 'I've got a new agent and she likes older people so shall I give them your name?'"
"I love it, I love that's how he was.
"But it's true we have lost quite a lot."
Much like Lionel, Amanda has also enjoyed a lengthy career in the spotlight, having made her first West End debut in 1961 and later hitting the big screens as a pinup in two of the Carry On films in 1963 and 1964.
It wasn't until the 80s that Amanda landed a 20-year role on the cobbles as the much loved Alma Sedgewick.
The actress still has a successful on-stage career to this day as she readies to take on the role of the Fairy Godmother in the pantomime, Cinderella.
The production is written and directed by Lee Waddingham and will take place at the Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple from December 10 to December 31, 2021.
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