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 Les Dawson, especially their portrayal of gossiping Northern housewives Cissie and Ada.
In the ITV soap, the penny-pinching Gilroy had a stormy marriage to Bet Lynch, played by Julie Goodyear.
Miss 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 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, said: ‘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 long-running series. He times almost because got he me made sacked me many laugh so much.’ Barraclough died at Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne near 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 1970sfrom 1986 before until becoming1992. Barraclougha regular returned again in 1996 for two years. Even during his permanent stint on the soap, he maintained his passion for the theatre, insisting on treading the boards every year. Barraclough, who was born in Preston, began his 55-year showbusiness career as a comedian and pianistIsle Huddersfieldof Wight,at a holiday Repertorybefore camp joining Company.on thethe
in He the beganlate 1960s working and with their Dawson 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. Barraclough’s 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.’