Snooker legend Willie Thorne and others pay tribute to star
TRIBUTES to Bill Maynard have been paid by people including actors, sportsmen and fans.
The Leicestershire performer has died aged 89 after breaking his hip in a fall off his mobility scooter.
Social media has been filled with tributes for the Heartbeat actor, whose career spanned eight decades.
Fellow Leicestershire celebrity, snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne, tweeted: “What a sad day Bill Maynard has passed away. Loved his snooker and lived close to me in Leicester, wonderful actor and friend. RIP.”
Bill’s fellow Heartbeat star Tricia Penrose, who played Gina in the soap, also shared a tribute to her co-star, with whom she competed on gameshow Pointless.
She posted: “RIP my lovely friend Bill Maynard, it was only a few weeks ago I worked with you. You will be sadly missed.”
Another actor, Richard Willis, shared a story of when he met Bill. He wrote on social media: “Bill Maynard came to my dad’s theatre on Guernsey to perform his beautiful one-man show about Charles Dickens. As a 10-year-old, I remember he tried very hard to dissuade me from being an actor. For this experience, I have always been grateful. RIP.”
Writer Dan Turner said that he was possibly the last person to interview Bill.
He said: “Truly sorry to hear about Bill Maynard passing.
“I imagine I was the last person to interview him. Incredibly eccentric and sharp. Went to interview him for 30 mins, ended up being 4 hours. RIP.”