Coronation Street's much-loved character Deirdre Barlow , portrayed by the late Anne Kirkbride, might have a secret offspring already residing on the cobbles, according to fan theories. The iconic character, recognised for her unique voice and oversized spectacles, first appeared on the soap in 1972 and rapidly became one of the country's favourite characters. From an affair with a younger man to two marriages with Ken Barlow (William Roache) and dealing with her murderous daughter Tracy (Kate Ford), Deirdre was at the heart of numerous gripping storylines during her tenure on the show. Deirdre made her last appearance on Coronation Street on 8th October 2014, before actress Anne took a prolonged break. Sadly, Anne died in January 2015 after a battle with breast cancer, resulting in Deirdre's off-screen death from a brain aneurysm while visiting her friend Bev Unwin (Susie Blake). Now, ten years since Deirdre's exit, fans are speculating about a potential explosive storyline involving a secret child from Deirdre's past affair with Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). Viewers will recall Deirdre had an affair with Mike in 1983 after marrying Ken, but eventually reconciled with her husband. Fans now suspect Deirdre may have had a child with Mike, who is currently living on the famous cobbles. Coronation Street followers on a dedicated Facebook group were all aflutter, reminiscing about Deirdre and Mike's racy 1980s storyline. A nostalgic fan sparked the discussion by posting an old photo of the couple prompting the question: "Who remembers the Deidre and Mike affair in the 1980s?", leading to a flood of speculation in the comments, reports the Mirror . One fan pitched the intriguing idea: "What if all along she had a kid with Mike and told no one.." The conversation heated up as another chimed in, suggesting: "Plot twist – the child is Billy Mayhew!" Furthering the twist, someone else commented: "They could easily retcon a few things to make it work." Another Corrie fan expressed enthusiasm for this unexpected theory, echoing: "Love this theory! The age works out as well I think." Daniel Brocklebank's character Billy Mayhew, Coronation Street's beloved vicar, has been at the forefront of various major storylines since his debut on the show. Recently, Billy has been grappling with the loss of his husband, Paul Foreman, who passed away from motor neurone disease (MND). This storyline placed him at the centre of one of the show's most heart-wrenching plots, leaving fans emotionally devastated. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.