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-20508975
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Final farewell to Corrie's Tarmey | Final farewell to Corrie's Tarmey |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Coronation Street stars and fans are saying a final farewell at the funeral of actor Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in the ITV soap opera. | |
| Tarmey was one of the show's best-loved actors for more than 30 years. He died earlier this month at the age of 71. | Tarmey was one of the show's best-loved actors for more than 30 years. He died earlier this month at the age of 71. |
| He left the soap in 2010 and died in Tenerife, Spain. | He left the soap in 2010 and died in Tenerife, Spain. |
| The funeral is taking place at the Albion United Reformed Church in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. | |
| There will be readings by his Coronation Street co-stars Nigel Pivaro, who plays his son Terry, and Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria. | |
| Tarmey was also a singer and his recording of the track The Wind Beneath My Wings will be played during the service. | |
| His former co-stars at the service included Liz Dawn - who played his wife Vera, William Roache, Alan Halsall and Jack P Shepherd. | |
| He was married to his childhood sweetheart Alison for 50 years and they had two children. | |
| In 2010, Tarmey published his autobiography, 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. | In 2010, Tarmey published his autobiography, 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. |
| Playing the lovable pigeon-fancying rogue, he soon became a stalwart of the soap along with his nagging wife Vera, played by Liz Dawn, and their constant bickering was at the heart of the show's trademark mix of humour and drama. | Playing the lovable pigeon-fancying rogue, he soon became a stalwart of the soap along with his nagging wife Vera, played by Liz Dawn, and their constant bickering was at the heart of the show's trademark mix of humour and drama. |
| Dawn was written out in 2008 due to ill health. But 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. | Dawn was written out in 2008 due to ill health. But 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. |
| 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. | 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 also suffered from sleep apnoea, a condition that resulted in him jolting awake several times a night due to breathing problems. | He also suffered from sleep apnoea, a condition that resulted in him jolting awake several times a night due to breathing problems. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The star's family asked for donations to be sent to the Brain Tumour Research charity, of which Tarmey was a patron. | The star's family asked for donations to be sent to the Brain Tumour Research charity, of which Tarmey was a patron. |