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Coronation Street actor John Savident dies aged 86

Home> Entertainment> TV & Film

Updated 11:56 23 Feb 2024 GMTPublished 11:29 23 Feb 2024 GMT

Coronation Street actor John Savident dies aged 86

The star's agent confirmed today that he passed away on Wednesday 21 February

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

A much-loved former star of Coronation Street has tragically passed away.

John Savident - known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap - died on Wednesday 21 February, his agent has confirmed.

John's character Fred was a fan-favourite.
ITV

His agent said: "We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February, he was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

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The widely-adored actor - who was also known for his performance as Monsieur Firmin in the West End cast of The Phantom of the Opera - first landed in Wetherfield as a butcher back in 1994, becoming a fan-favourite almost immediately.

Whilst his storylines remained rather lighthearted - including a turbulent love life, three weddings and numerous failed proposals - the arrival of his on-screen son Ashley (played by Steve Arnold) saw the pair form a heart-felt bond which often left viewers in tears after he joined his father in the butcher's.

Fred (Savident) and his son Ashley (Arnold) on the Cobbles.
ITV

Back in 2006 - fourteen years after first arriving on the Cobbles - the well-loved character of Fred was killed off.

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The on-screen star suffered a fatal stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev Unwin (played by Susie Blake), with actor Steve Arnold leaving the show four years later.

Outside of Corrie, Savident starred in political comedy Yes, Minister, Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian thriller A Clockwork Orange, and biopic Gandhi.

He also made appearances in war film Battle Of Britain, sci-fi series Doctor Who and period dramas The Remains Of The Day and Middlemarch.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: Coronation Street, TV And Film, ITV, Celebrity, Health

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

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@rhiannaBjourno

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