Doctors and Shooting Stars' Rose-Marie dies suddenly at home in Blackpool

A well-known singer has suddenly died at her home in Blackpool.

Doctors and Shooting Stars' star Rose-Marie Kane died suddenly at the age of 68. A post on her official Facebook page announced her death. It read: "It is with heavy hearts and enormous great sadness, that we have to announce the sudden passing of our much loved Rose-Marie, in her beloved second home of Blackpool. Rest in Peace, dear heart.”

Close friends have paid tribute to the singer, with pal Robin Elliott calling her a "massive" TV star. Actress Tricia Penrose has also said she was "heartbroken" by the news, the Mirror reports.

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Robin says Rose-Marie was recording her 20th album last Thursday. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: "I just can't believe this has happened. I've known her for a hell of a long time, I first met her in the '90s. I worked on a TV show with her called Something for the Weekend for the BBC, and then over the years our paths crossed many times."

The friend reminisced on how they had worked together with Louis Walsh on a talent show in Blackpool in 2015. In 2019, they also spent 'a lot of time together' on multiple projects.

At the end of this month, on June 28, Robin was planning to travel to the seaside town for a celebrity audience with her on North Pier, including a live performance and Q&A session.

"She had so much to look forward to," he explained. "She was in the studio recording a new album, there was a TV documentary being made about her, life was good." He added that her death was 'so sudden'.

"It was so sudden, the last day I was with her she was in great form. There were no health issues at all. We think it was a heart attack."

Tricia Penrose played Gina Ward on ITV's Heartbeat and expressed her sorrow over losing her close friend. "I am absolutely heartbroken to lose my dear friend Rose-Marie RIP my dear heart," she shared. We were only together this time last week in Blackpool. I'm going to miss you so much xxx."

Rose-Marie was raised on a farm outside Newry, County Down in Northern Ireland. She was a former judge on the BBC series Go For It on series two. She also appeared on The Royal Variety Show, Shooting Stars, Doctors, Big Brother's Little Brother and more.

The singer was the daughter of Ann and Owen and one of six siblings. She leaves behind her mother Ann.