Kiwi fans face long wait to farewell Coro's Deirdre Barlow

Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Deirdre Rachid (Anne Kirkbride ) get married in an upcoming episode of Coronation Street Supplied 29 April 2005 to Herald on Sunday HBT 1mar06 - HIGHLIGHT: `Co

*Spoiler warning: This article contains Coronation Street spoilers*

This week in the UK, Coronation Street fans will finally get the opportunity to farewell Deirdre Barlow as her death and funeral episodes air.

However, New Zealand fans are in for a long wait.

TVNZ representatives confirmed that while there is no set date for Deirdre's funeral to air, it won't be this year.

While Neighbours, Home and Away and Eastenders air here only a few weeks after being screened in their home countries Kiwi fans have long had to put up with being far behind in Coronation Street. The 50th anniversary episode, which premiered in the UK in December 2010, didn't air here until July 2012.

The much-loved character has been killed off following the unexpected death of actress Anne Kirkbride in January. Kirkbride played Deirdre for 42 years, debuting in 1972 when she was 18. She went on to become the fourth longest-running character on the show, and appeard in a number of colourful storylines.

Deirdre was last seen on British screens in October last year, the character leaving to visit past character Bev Unwin while Kirkbride had a break.

In the episodes that aired in the UK this week, Bev Unwin returns to inform Deirdre's long time husband Ken that she died in her sleep suffering an aneurysm, and tearfully presents him with a pair of Deirdre's trademark glasses. Several past characters are expected to return for her funeral, which airs on July 13.

Kirkbride died from breast cancer on January 19, aged 60.