Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent admitted the tragic news she recently received has turned her life "upside down".
The actress, who played Sally Dynevor's daughter on the ITV soap before her dramatic departure in 2019, has revealed that she's lost her beloved grandmother Joan. She shared a selection of nostalgic photos on Instagram, showing everything from her 50th wedding anniversary to a heart-shaped locket Brooke's customised by putting pictures of them together inside.
Addressing her pain candidly, she wrote: "On October 5th our families whole world was turned upside down, as we lost our beautiful, amazing, ICONIC Nana Joan. (sic) Yesterday we laid her to rest with a service that was full to the brim of people that loved and cared for her."
She continued: "I thought by now I would have the words to explain what this loss means to me but the truth is I don’t think I will ever, my nana's passing has left our family feeling completely devastated and truly lost."
Brooke then shared her gratitude for friends and fans alike, as she wrote: "Thank you to everybody who has reached out over the past unsettling month, your love and kind words haven’t gone unnoticed." Then she personally addressed her grandmother, exclaiming: "I couldn’t tell you anymore how much I loved you, I find comfort in knowing you always knew that.
"Me and my boys were the luckiest to have you."
Brooke shares her two children, five-year-old Mexx and three-year-old Monroe, with her footballer partner Kean Bryan - and Joan is known to have been a devoted great-grandparent to the little boys.
The soap star continued in her public tribute to her nan: "Now I’m glad of the 96 videos I have of you and our happy times!
"I know how many people on here loved and adored my nana and our videos! She always loved being 'recognised'.
"Thank you for loving her as much as we all did," she gushed, before finally adding: "I love you Nana. I will forever miss you."
"So sorry for your loss, stay strong and lean on your family remembering your lovely memories," one Instagrammer wrote in reply.
Another supportive fan chimed in: "I used to love watching your videos of you and Nana Joan, I can only imagine how heartbroken you must all be feeling. I am so sorry to read this - Sending love to you and strength to you and your whole family."
"A loss that is irreplaceable but memories to live forever. Sending you so much love. Such a lovely Lady, truly one in million," wrote a third.
Meanwhile, although Brooke left Corrie to raise her young kids, she hasn't ruled out a return when they're older and has already made a comeback via the stage play The Syndicate, which toured the UK earlier this year.