Coronation Street Celebrity Johnny Briggs Dies Aged 85.

Actor johnny Briggs, who performed mike 1st earl Baldwin of Bewdley in coronation avenue for 30 years, has died aged eighty-five. His family said the man died peacefully after "a protracted infection, with a circle of relatives via his aspect" and requested for privateness to "bear in mind the extremely good times we had".

Briggs became made an MBE within the new yr's honors in 2007, the year after his person left the ITV cleaning soap. Baldwin's intimacy with Deidre Barlow and his feud together with her husband, Ken, was protracted-strolling rankings hit for the display.

Coronation street colleagues have given tribute to Briggs calling him a "remarkable actor" and describing mike 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley as "one of the most iconic characters the street has ever acknowledged".

William Roache, who played 1st earl Baldwin of Bewdley's long-term rival ken Barlow, said Briggs turned into a "strong individual who may be significantly neglected".

"mike 1st earl Baldwin of Bewdley and ken Barlow had been arch enemies for many years, however as an actor, johnny become impeccable, always proper, and I used to be so fortunate to have achieved with him for so many years," he said.

Sue Nicholls, who performs Audrey Roberts, stated he changed into "an extraordinary friend" and changed into "continually fun to be round".

"he performed the part of mike Baldwin so properly that, in spite of all mike's ducking and diving, you had been constantly on his side," she stated.

Helen worth, who plays Gail Platt at the cobbles, stated he become "one among the street's maximum memorable characters".

Sally never, who performs sally webster, said "what an incredible actor he was", whilst Samia longchambon, who performs Maria Connor, tweeted she had "fond memories" of operating with him, describing him as a "cute man".

Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully, said "we all cherished him", while former soap writer Phil ford tweeted it become "very very sad" to hear of his loss of life.

And john Whiston, managing director of persevering with drama at ITV, stated Briggs has been "right at the center of the show" for years adding: "when mike Baldwin was in a scene it turned into very difficult to observe everybody else." Born on 5 September 1935 in Battersea, in south-west London, Briggs was evacuated to the nation-state throughout global struggle ii earlier than embarking on a career in display commercial enterprise returned in London on the age of 12.

After a destroy for two years of provider in Germany with the royal tank regiment, starting in 1953, he resumed his performing career landing roles in numerous keep on movies and tv police drama no hiding location. The demise of Baldwin drew 12 million viewers and accompanied the person's struggle with Alzheimer's - main the actor to again a fundraising appeal to help the ones tormented by the disorder.

Briggs gained the British cleaning soap award for lifetime success in 2006. In 1995 Briggs had a united kingdom chart hit, alongside coronation street co-superstar Amanda Barrie, with a version of frank and nancy sinatra's something silly.

He also seemed on the degree and in films alongside the likes of norman awareness, dirk Bogarde and Tommy Steele. He married caroline Sinclair in 1961 and had two kids earlier than the couple divorced in 1975. The equal year he married schoolteacher Christine Allsop, a marriage that produced 4 kids.