Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey had a huge impact on the ITV soap during his four decade-long stint as Jack Duckworth.
One part of power couple Jack and Vera, Bill took on the role in 1979, and only left the coveted cobbles in 2010 – with his character killed off two years before his own death.
In November 2012, Bill suffered a heart attack following heart bypass surgery some years before.
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But despite his numerous health woes, the actor refused to quit smoking after a lifetime of chuffing cigarettes. In 2011, the then-70-year-old was spotted sporting an oxygen mask, which he then removed to smoke a quick cig.
To mark ten years since Bill’s death, Daily Star has taken a look inside that fateful period.
Health woes
(Image: ITV)
Throughout his life, Bill suffered from various health conditions – and in 2011, underwent major heart surgery. The actor told press of his condition at the time: “I’m deeply worried. I have cheated death so many times I feel like a cat running out of lives.
“I’m used to being out of breath but this is something different. I could be dead tomorrow.”
Bill was fitted with a new pacemaker complete with a defibrillator after suffering fainting and dizzy spells.
Though he described leaving Corrie as “painful”, Bill’s declining health meant he simply couldn’t carry on in the role of Jack.
Along with problems with his hearing, Bill suffered from sleep apnea, meaning he would stop breathing when asleep, which would jolt him awake – disturbing his rest.
He said at the time: “I was getting up eight, nine or even 10 times a night so I was constantly feeling knackered.
“Then during the day I could fall asleep anywhere. It only happened at work once. We’d been doing a scene and the producer said, ‘We’ve got quite a bit to do, so you can sit on the couch and wait ’til we’re ready for you again.’ Within seconds I was asleep.
“The next thing I knew, this guy was shaking me, ‘Wake up. We can’t film the scene, because all we can hear is you snoring.’”
Bill used a CPAP machine to combat the condition, but said the noise of the breathing mask also disturbed him at night.
Star ‘died twice’
(Image: ITV)
Bill confessed to The People that he had “died twice” in his life and had to be resuscitated.
He said: “I’ve already died twice and the last time they brought me back to life using a medical version of jump leads.”
Throughout his life, Bill suffered one heart attack in 1976, followed by a stroke in 1977.
In 1986, he underwent a quintuple heart bypass, before suffering a second heart attack in 2002, after which he was fitted with his pacemaker.
Reflecting on his smoking habit, Bill said: “I could make it easier on myself. I could give up smoking. I could go and sit in a rocking chair.
“But that wouldn’t be me. That would kill me sooner than the old ticker would.”
Death on holiday
(Image: PA)
Bill’s death came on November 9th, 2012, while on holiday in Tenerife. He was 71.
A statement from Coronation Street at the time read: “The family of Bill Tarmey have confirmed that he sadly passed away this morning in Tenerife. “They have respectfully asked the media for privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother.
“The cast, crew and production team at Coronation Street are devastated to hear of Bill’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s wife and soulmate Ali and their family at this very sad time,” it concluded.
Son’s brain tumour battle
(Image: PA)
Bill Tarmey’s son Carl Piddington devastatingly blamed himself for his father’s death – after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given just a year to live.
Within weeks of Carl’s diagnosis, Bill was handing in his notice to Corrie bosses – and despite this, Carl defied the odds by surviving for nearly a decade after his diagnosis.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Carl said: “I’ll never forget the day I told my dad I had cancer.
“He collapsed psychically and emotionally, sobbing like a baby. Dad just completely fell apart. We don’t think he ever recovered from that day.”
He tragically added: “Something that really plays on my mind is the guilt I have got for my dad leaving the show that he loved, because that is what eventually killed him.”
Carl died in March 2019, ten years after receiving his brain tumour diagnosis, aged 52.
He suffered from an aggressive glioma, and after surgery to remove the tumour the size of a lemon, the tumour was deemed incurable.
Star-studded funeral
(Image: PA)
Bill’s funeral was attended by masses of his Corrie co-stars, from Ken Barlow actor William Roache to Helen Worth and Sue Nicholls.
At the Albion United Reformed Church in Ashton-under-Lyne, a whole host of actors showed up to show their respects.
(Image: PA)
Tributes soon poured in from Bill’s co-stars, with Terry Duckworth star Nigel Pivaro offering a speech during the funeral service in which he said: “Today the world is a little poorer for not having him with us and heaven’s a little richer.
“Thank you Bill for living such a wonderful life so fully and sharing it with all of us.”
Incredible net worth
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Throughout his years as a soap actor, Bill accrued an eye-watering net worth of approximately £1.3million according to Celeb Net Worths.
Four years after Bill’s death, his incredible house went up for sale in 2016, for an asking price of £400,000.
The one-storey property featured a fully-equipped bar and an indoor swimming pool, along with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Located in Greater Manchester, the property also boasted a sunken corner bath, rustic ceiling beams and a detached garage.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
