Bill Roache is said to be 'heartbroken' following the death of his eldest daughter.

The Coronation Street actor's daughter Vanya died last week aged 50. Bill, who plays Ken Barlow on the soap, was absent from filming in Manchester on Monday and Tuesday of this week. A show source confirmed that he had been granted compassionate leave from the show for a time, reports The Sun. "Bill is utterly heartbroken," the source said. "No father should have to go through the loss of a child, let alone two. "ITV are giving him all the time he needs but he’s understandably very upset. "After hearing the news on Friday he’s been told to take as long as required. "There’s no word just yet on when he’ll return." Vanya leaves behind her a fiancé, Toby. A number of her friends have paid tribute to her online. [caption id="attachment_392653" align="alignnone" width="816"] Bill and wife Sara.[/caption]   Bill, who is 85, has been on Coronation Street since its first episode in 1960. He has suffered a number of close personal losses in his lifetime. He and wife Sara Mottram lost their daughter 18-month-old daughter Edwina to pneumonia in 1983. Sara died suddenly in 2009 after 31 year of marriage. Vanya is his daughter from his first marriage to Anna Cropper. Bill also has a son, Linus, from that marriage, as well as a daughter, Verity, and a son, James, form his marriage to Sara.