This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20270904

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Bill Tarmey, Coronation Street star, dies aged 71 Bill Tarmey, Coronation Street star, dies
(35 minutes later)
Actor Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in ITV soap Coronation Street, has died. Actor Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in ITV soap opera Coronation Street, has died.
Tarmey, 71, left the soap in 2010, after more than 30 years on the show. Tarmey, 71, left the soap in 2010 after more than 30 years in the show.
His family confirmed to ITV that he died in Tenerife on Friday morning, and asked for "privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother". His family confirmed that he died in Tenerife, Spain, on Friday, and asked for "privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother".
His on-screen wife Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, said: "You couldn't wish to meet a more lovely man and a true gentleman." Liz Dawn, who played his on-screen wife Vera Duckworth, said: "You couldn't wish to meet a more lovely man and a true gentleman."
A statement from Coronation Street said the cast, crew and production team were "devastated" to learn of his death.A statement from Coronation Street said the cast, crew and production team were "devastated" to learn of his death.
It continued: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's wife and soulmate Ali and their family at this very sad time." "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's wife and soulmate Ali and their family at this very sad time," it said.
Along with his own ill health, he eventually left Coronation Street to help care for his son Carl, who was battling a life-threatening brain tumour. Tarmey was married to his childhood sweetheart Alison for 50 years and they had two children.
He told ITV Granada earlier this year: "If this hadn't happened they would've had to drag me out of there screaming. It was a wonderful bloody job, especially for an old coffin-dodger." As well as suffering ill health himself, Tarmey eventually left Coronation Street to help care for his son Carl, who was battling a brain tumour.
Emotional finale He told ITV Granada earlier this year: "If this hadn't happened, they would've had to drag me out of there screaming. It was a wonderful bloody job, especially for an old coffin-dodger."
A life-long heavy smoker, Tarmey had suffered a severe heart attack at just 35 while singing on stage, and he had heart surgery to bypass clogged arteries at 45, having the operation redone 15 years later. A life-long heavy smoker, Tarmey suffered a severe heart attack at just 35 while singing on stage and had heart surgery to bypass clogged arteries at 45, having the operation redone 15 years later.
He had also suffered from sleep apnoea, a serious condition which resulted in him jolting awake several times a night after he had stopped breathing. He also suffered from sleep apnoea, a condition that resulted in him jolting awake several times a night due to breathing problems.
Tarmey was reunited with his nagging on-screen wife Vera, played by Liz Dawn, for his emotional finale from the soap. Liz Dawn, who played his nagging on-screen wife until 2008, said: "I am totally bereft. He will always be remembered by everyone he came into contact with because he was such a kind and generous man."
The actress had left the show two years before because of her health, when Vera was seen dying in the same armchair as Jack. For Tarmey's final appearance in the soap two years ago, Jack and Vera were reunited one last time when they appeared to dance together as a dying Jack drifted in and out of consciousness.
However, Jack's final scenes showed her appearing at his side and saw the pair dancing together, as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Other co-stars have also been paying tribute. Kevin Kennedy, who played Curly Watts, said he was "absolutely devastated" and that Tarmey's death was "like losing a member of the family".
Liz Dawn said: "Bill was part of my family. When you work with someone for so long as we did it becomes more than just work. Nigel Pivaro, who starred as Jack and Vera's wayward son Terry, described Tarmey as "a very wise and dignified man who taught me a great deal".
"Our families were close and I am devastated for Ali and his family. I am totally bereft. He will always be remembered by everyone he came into contact with because he was such a kind and generous man. You couldn't wish to meet a more lovely man and a true gentleman. He was a gentle giant and I will miss him so much." William Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap stated in 1960, praised Tarmey's "amazing comic timing" and said he was "a genuinely warm and wonderful human being".
In real life he was married to his childhood sweetheart Alison for 50 years and they had two children. Vicky Entwistle, who appeared as Janice Battersby in the soap, said Tarmey would be missed by everyone who worked with him.
Kevin Kennedy, who played Curly in the soap, issued a statement through his agent, which said: "Kevin is absolutely devastated. He has known Bill since he was 15 and it is like losing a member of the family." "He was just such a lovely man to have around," she said. "So warm and always full of fun. The character of Jack was such a jack the lad, there was that wonderful mischievous side to him. He was so well loved by everyone - just a beautiful kind man.
Tarmey had originally planned to leave Coronation Street a year earlier than he did, but was persuaded by producers and his wife to stay for the show's 50th anniversary. "We all used to look up to him and learn from him and watch him because he made everything look so easy."
Vicky Entwistle, who played Janice Battersby in the soap, said Tarmey would be missed by everyone who worked with him. In 2010, Tarmey published his autobiography, Jack Duckworth And Me, which charted his life from growing up in the slums of Manchester through to working as a singer in local nightclubs before landing a role on the Street in 1979.
"He was just such a lovely man to have around. So warm and always full of fun. The character of Jack was such a jack the lad, there was that wonderful mischievous side to him. He was so well loved by everyone - just a beautiful kind man."
She added that Tarmey often took the newer cast members under his wing.
'Duck to water'
"He was just a real sounding board, if you had any problems with a scene or you needed a little bit of help, he would guide you.
"When you first go into a show like that it's a real big adventure. He didn't judge, he would just be there if you needed any advice.
"He was extremely talented. We all used to look up to him and learn from him and watch him because he made everything look so easy."
In 2010, Tarmey published his autobiography, Jack Duckworth And Me, which charted his life from growing up in the slums of Manchester through to working as a singer in local nightclubs, before he landed a role on the Street in 1979.
He said: "I've loved sharing my life with Jack. I'm not sure whether he has liked sharing his with me, though!"He said: "I've loved sharing my life with Jack. I'm not sure whether he has liked sharing his with me, though!"
Former co-star Jean Alexander, who played long-time Coronation Street resident Hilda Ogden, said she was very fond of Tarmey and that he and Dawn were "a really good team". 'Good team'
"He certainly took to that part like a duck to water," she continued, as she recalled acting with him during his first scene in the soap's pub The Rovers. Former co-star Jean Alexander, who played long-time Coronation Street resident Hilda Ogden, told the BBC Tarmey and Dawn were "a really good team".
"He certainly took to that part like a duck to water," she said as she recalled acting with him during his first scene in the soap's pub The Rovers Return.
"I was standing next to him on the set and we were just about to start this scene. He said 'Jean I've only ever done walk-ons. I'm terribly nervous, I'll forget what I've got to say.'"I was standing next to him on the set and we were just about to start this scene. He said 'Jean I've only ever done walk-ons. I'm terribly nervous, I'll forget what I've got to say.'
"I said 'No you won't Bill, just keep your mind still, open your mouth and the words will come out'. But he soon got over that. "I said 'No you won't Bill, just keep your mind still, open your mouth and the words will come out'. He soon got over that.
"And the part was so suitable for him personally. He was the right sort of character and the right sort of person to play it. I'm very sorry he's gone.""And the part was so suitable for him personally. He was the right sort of character and the right sort of person to play it. I'm very sorry he's gone."