Emmerdale and Coronation Street star Kathryn Apanowicz has died aged 64.
Bradford-born Apanowicz, who was the partner of former Countdown and ITV Calendar host Richard Whiteley, had reportedly been ill for some time.
Her death was announced on Monday as a friend paid tribute on social media. On Facebook, former ITV Calendar presenter Christa Ackroyd wrote: “Reunited with her beloved Richard. I will miss you so much my lovely friend. What adventures we had. The world will always be a duller place without you…”
Carol Vorderman, Whitely’s co-host on C4’s Guinness World Record Breaking Countdown, also paid tribute to the actress, taking to Twitter to remember “our dear Kathy” this morning:
READ MORE: Unsung BBC comedy legend and Spitting Image star dies in tragic accident abroad
Apanowicz was one of a select group of actors and actresses to have achieved the soap “holy trinity” of appearing in all three of Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Eastenders. Producer and entertainment historian Paul Burton remembered the Southern section of her soap journey in his own tribute:
Apanowicz and eighties and nineties Yorkshire TV and Channel 4 mainstay Whitely were in a relationship from 1994 until his death in 2005 from heart problems.
Ian White of ITV Calendar also paid tribute and wrote: ‘Very sad news tonight about friend and former colleague Kathryn Apanowicz.’
Kathryn started her television career as a child performer in Yorkshire Television’s Junior Show Time and in the film Bugsy Malone.
Throughout her career she also starred in BBC programme Angels, where she played Nurse Rose Butchins, before her multiple appearances in soaps. In EastEnders she played the caterer Magda Czajkowski. She appeared in Emmerdale in 1972 and Corrie for the first time in 1960, and again in 1997.
In her later life she presented on BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio York. She also wrote a book following Richard’s death, titled Richard by Kathryn: The Life of Richard Whiteley.
Another former Calendar host, Ian White, took to social media to thank friends and fans for the “huge response” to Apanowicz’s passing. He said: “What a huge response there has been to the news our friend Kathryn Apanowicz has died aged 64. Thank you for all the kind comments. Kathryn was full of fun and positivity and a joy to spend time with. Always a hoot! She will be greatly missed.”
