Maurice Roeves
Actor
Film credits include The Eagle Has Landed, Oh! What A Lovely War, a Romulan captain in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Judge Dredd and The Damned United.
He played Colonel Munro in Michael Mann’s big screen version of The Last Of The Mohicans.
Television appearances hit shows roles included on American Magnum PI,
Roeves as Geoff Morton in EastEnders, above, and as villain Robert in River City, inset below
Remington Steele, Baywatch and Cheers.
Here he has been a familiar face on TV since appearing in dramas including Danger UXB, Jason King and The Sweeney in the 1970s.
He went on to land roles in popular soaps including Holby City, Casualty, Glasgow-set River City and the role of Geoff Morton in EastEnders. His most recent appearance was a small part in the 2020 BBC television drama The Nest.
Yesterday, his wife Vanessa said Roeves had been in poor health for some time. Paying tribute to her husband, she said despite his onscreen image he was “a softie” away from the cameras. Announcing his death in a statement, Roeves’ agent Lovett Logan said: “Maurice loved nothing more than being on set with his fellow actors and worked right until the end.” Roeves is survived by Vanessa and daughter, Sarah, from his first marriage.
Paula Tilbrook playing Betty Eagleton in soap Emmerdale
TRIBUTES have flooded in for Emmerdale star Paula Tilbrook who has died at the age of 89.
The actress played Betty Eagleton on the soap for 21 years.
Initially she signed up to play the sherry-loving village gossip for just three episodes.
But she went on to become one of the soap’s most popular characters, before retiring in 2015.
Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle, said: “I first saw the wonder that was Paula Tilbrook on stage at Oldham Coliseum and never before or since have I seen any actor hold an audience so completely in the palm of her hand.
“An amazing actress, truly hilarious company and a wonderful colleague and friend. I’ll miss her always.”
A show statement said: “Paula was at the heart of Emmerdale for many