Coronation Street fans were left utterly astounded after learning the age of the esteemed

Barbara Knox, who has been depicting Rita Tanner on the show for decades.

The stalwart first graced the cobbles in 1964, making her an enduring fixture as

the much-adored Rita, slicing through life’s drama in Weatherfield with aplomb.

Presently, Barbara claims the title of being one of the doyens of the Corrie cast, coming second only to the nonagenarian Bill Roache, known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow.

Rita, the stalwart owner of The Kabin, has navigated a myriad of tumultuous story arcs, involving romances and rivalries alike.

Coronaiton Street can’t get over Barbara Kox’s real age

During her tenure, Rita’s heart has been spoken for three times, through her marriages to Len Fairclough, Ted Sullivan, and Dennis Tanner. Remarkably, she also holds the distinction for attracting an unprecedented number of marriage proposals, 15 from a total of 12 suitors, reports the Express.

Yet, it’s the revelation of actress Barbara’s age that has recently taken fans by surprise. On a dedicated Facebook fan page of the soap, reactions ranged from shocked exclamations like: “As if Rita is 90 ! ! She looks amazing! ! ” to praise stating “Nooo way ! …she looks fabulous.”

Others expressed admiration: “She’s amazing for her age.” While another fan declared: “Beautifulest actress ever on Corrie still looks fab at 90.”

And yet another commenter acknowledged her impressive appearance: “Yes she is. Omg she does look bloody good!!”

Barbara initially assumed the role of Rita Littlewood on Coronation Street on 2 December 1964, portraying an exotic dancer and pal of Dennis Tanner for merely a single episode. She made a full-time comeback in January 1972 as Rita Bates, establishing herself as a regular and endearing presence in the soap.

In 2010, Barbara was honoured with an MBE for her contributions to drama and has bagged numerous awards for her portrayal of Rita, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards.

Last year, it was reported that she had extended her contract with Corrie. A source told The Sun: “Barbara is in Corrie’s DNA.”

“She is a true pro, and the executives were delighted that she put pen to paper to ensure she’s on screens into next year. The source continued: ” The insider added: “Corrie is a lovely, steady place to work with a supportive team, so it makes it easy to fit around family, having kids and as the cast have grown older.”