Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’m devastated to lose my mate Roy... we were like a real couple
TV wife Julie Goodyear on Corrie legend
Roy Barraclough will for ever be remembered as scheming Coronation Street landlord Alec Gilroy, pulling pints but never his punches in the Rovers Return. But off-screen, Roy was the exact opposite. Gentle, kind and softly spoken, his wicked sense of humour led to him forging a classic comedy double-act with Les Dawson – and made him hugely popular with his co-stars. Among the pals honouring him after his death yesterday aged 81 was Julie Goodyear, his Corrie wife Bet Lynch. Julie, 75, said: “I have no words to describe how devastated I feel. We were just like a married couple. 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. Rest in peace Roy. I will always love you.” Corrie executive producer Kieran Roberts dedicated last night’s episode to the star, saying: “The fact that Alec Gilroy was at the heart of the show for so many years and was held in such affection by so many fans is a tribute to Roy’s genius, for drama as well as comedy.” Roy, who suffered from diabetes in later life, died at the Willow Wood Hospice in Greater Manchester after a short illness he had kept secret. He walked the Cobbles until 1998 before leaving to star in Last of the Summer Wine, Casualty, Last Tango in Halifax and last year’s revival of classic comedy Are You Being Served? The private star, who never married, won an MBE for his acting and charity work in 2006. And as well as his role as Alec, many will remember him for his sketches with the late Les Dawson. The pair appeared in dozens of skits in the 1970s, on shows including Sez Les and Dawson and Friends. They were most famous for drag act Cissie and Ada. After Les’s death in 1993, Roy became a rock to his widow Tracy and then 18-month-old daughter Charlotte, helping out at family fundraisers. Tracy, 67, said: “Roy’s death has come as such as shock but at least he is with Les in heaven now. I can just picture them, making people laugh again as Cissie and Ada. Les would spend ages writing the scripts but they only had to look at each other and the script would go out of the window. “You could see the twinkle in their eyes and they would start ad-libbing. They had us in tears. “Roy was always there when Les died. Just a phone call makes such a difference. He will be so missed.” Roy was born in Preston, Lancs, the only child of Fleetwood FC goalkeeper Phil Barraclough and his wife Florence. He fell in love with the theatre and acted in the Huddersfield Repertory Company during 12 years as a draughtsman at an engineering firm.
Corrie first beckoned in 1964, when he played a tour guide, then he returned to sell Stan Ogden his window cleaning round and later as a bed salesman. The soap paved the way for TV roles including drama Castle Haven, sitcom The More We Are Together and a turn as hardware shop owner Mr Cobbledick in children’s show Pardon My Genie. He also featured in Rising Damp and George and Mildred. Roy continued to make appearances on Corrie as talent agent Alec Gilroy, until he took the role on full-time from 1986. Co-star Beverley Callard, 60, who plays barmaid Liz Mcdonald, said he would have her in stitches. She said: “I will be for ever indebted to Roy, he was one of the people who trained me in all the skills for working in a long-running series like this. He almost got me sacked many times because he made me laugh so much. It was a joy to be in his company. I feel honoured to have known and worked with him.” Roy narrated the Corrie stage show in
2010, to help celebrate its 50th anniversary. At the time, he joked: “I think I’ve earned a bit of a rest.” But he continued acting until the end. After Corrie, Roy resumed his stage career, starring in a tour of Death of a Salesman. He was on TV most recently as Mr Grainger in last year’s tribute to Are You Being Served? That role reunited him with Sherrie Hewson, 66, who was Maureen Webster in Corrie. The pair had a great time filming the comedy and Sherrie said: “We spent the week in a hotel together, eating together every night. He made me laugh so hard I fell off my seat. He had such a straight face, when the waiter came to help me he said, ‘Don’t give her any more wine’. We were going to have dinner in a few weeks’ time. I don’t think any of us realised Roy was ill, he never complained.’” Angela Griffin, who played hairdresser Fiona Middleton, added: “Had the pleasure of Roy Barraclough’s Alex Gilroy managing Fiona’s singing career in Corrie. Proper fun. What a joy. RIP Roy.” And comedian Matt Lucas tweeted a picture of himself with Roy while they were filming 2015 show Pompidou, writing: “Happy days with Roy on Pompidou. Lovely man, brilliant actor.”
I have no words to describe how devastated I feel ... We were just like a married couple JULIE GOODYEAR ON HER FRIENDSHIP WITH ROY