Coronation Street legend Roy of The Rovers dies at 81
ROY Barraclough, who played Rovers Return landlord Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street, died yesterday aged 81.
A star of the stage, the comic actor was also known for his partnership with comic Les Dawson, especially their portrayal of gossiping housewives Cissie and Ada.
In the soap, the penny-pinching Gilroy had a stormy marriage to Bet Lynch, played by Julie Goodyear. Ms Goodyear, 75, paid tribute in an emotional statement yesterday, saying: ‘My dearest friend Roy Barraclough has passed away. I have no words to describe how devastated I feel.
‘We kept in close touch and spoke to each other at least two
‘We were just like a married couple’
or three times every week. I will treasure all the happy times we had working and laughing together. We were just like a married couple. Rest in peace, Roy. I will always love you.’
Beverley Callard, who plays barmaid Liz McDonald in Coronation Street, also paid tribute to her former co-star, saying: ‘I will be forever indebted to Roy.
‘He was one of the people who trained me in all the skills required for working in a longrunning series. He almost got me sacked many times because he made me laugh so much.’
Barraclough died at a hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, after a short illness. He had been a patron of the hospice for more than 20 years.
He arrived in Coronation Street in 1964 as a tour guide and landed the role of Alec Gilroy in the early 1970s before becoming a regular from 1986 until 1992. He returned again in 1996 for two years.
Barraclough, born in Preston, Lancashire, began his 55-year showbusiness career as a comedian and pianist at a holiday camp on the Isle of Wight, before joining the Huddersfield Repertory Company.
He began working with Dawson in the late 1960s and their muchloved comic creations included Cissie Braithwaite, played by Barraclough, and Ada Shufflebotham, played by Dawson, who were seen on TV in the 1970s and 1980s. His other TV work included roles in Last Of The Summer Wine and Last Tango In Halifax. Last year, he appeared in the BBC’s tribute to Are You Being Served? as Mr Grainger.
Coronation Street executive producer Kieran Roberts said: ‘Roy was a delightful person as well as a wonderful actor and will be greatly missed by all of us connected with the programme.’