Who was the first character to die on the British soap opera "Coronation Street"?

May Hardman (Nee Mason) was a character in "Coronation Street" in 1960. She was the first character to die in the show. May was played by Joan Heath. She was born in about 1905 in Weatherfield. She was the daughter of Frank Mason and his wife (whose name was never used in the show).

May was sectioned, but later released in December 1960. She passed away in her home a few days later from an un-diagnosed brain tumour, much to the distress of her daughter Christine who thought her mother was putting on the headaches and complaining.

"Coronation Street" (often referred to as "Corrie") is a British soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme typically centres around the residents of Coronation Street – a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford.