Hayley Patterson was the first trans character on British television.
She developed a friendship with eccentric cafe owner Roy Cropper, a man with a thing for steam trains and order.
Roy and Hayley's was a tender love story of two outsiders finding a connection.
At first, there was controversy about a cis actress, Julie Hesmondhalgh, playing the character.
Their story broke proper political ground.
They had this sort of impact on the national consciousness.
LGBT History Month lists Hayley as one of the most important figures in its history.
Hayley was a national treasure!
The trans storyline was always there at the back of the character, but they didn't make her into an "issue" character.
She loved to dance.
They fostered a child called Fiz.
At first she was a snotty tearaway and didn't stay long. But she ended up back on the Street and now she's with Tyrone and they're like the new Jack and Vera.
In the feral Becky Grainger they got a kind-of surrogate daughter.
Eventually, they were allowed to get married after all.
She developed a touching friendship with Carla, the Footballers Wivesy one who runs the factory.
We've had 15 happy years of Roy and Hayley. But now Julie Hesmondhalgh has decided to leave.
Hayley had to die. So now she's been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
Julie told the Express.
"Hayley is part of me and I'm sorry I'm doing this to her. It's because of me this is happening. I also feel really sad because I'm leaving my friends, especially David Neilson who plays Roy. We have a special working relationship that you get once in a lifetime. So when I'm filming a sad scene it's not even just about the words, which are heart breaking anyway, it's also about everything else. I'm really upset that Hayley is dying because I love her."
Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn says killing Hayley was an easy decision.
"I would have done anything to persuade Julie to stay, but I appreciate that her mind was made up, which made killing off Hayley the easiest decision I've made. There was no other way."
So now they're doing a "bucket list" storyline.
In true Hayley style, she's determined to make the most of every moment she has left.
Next they're exploring "right to die".
This is going to be the saddest thing you see on television for the rest of the year.
So there's going to be quite a bit of this coming up.
