HEARTBEAT STAR BILL DIES AT 89
Tributes to a telly legend
TRIBUTES have flooded in for the much-loved Heartbeat star Bill Maynard, who has died in hospital after falling off his mobility scooter.
kept working, taking on other acting jobs including a stint reprising the Greengrass role on Heartbeat spin-off The Royal. Spanning seven decades his vast back catalogue of work included spells in TV, film, comedy and music. Born Walter Williams in 1928, the actor’s big break came at the age of 25 when he appeared on BBC’s Face The Music. He first found fame after forming a double act with Terry Scott, who went on to star in 70s favourite Terry And June, and they appeared together in Great Scott, It’s Maynard. The Surrey-born actor had success in sitcoms himself when he starred as the lead character for four series of the ITV sitcom Oh No, It’s YOUNG: In 1954 Selwyn Froggitt! Just five years ago, Bill recorded a version of What A Wonderful World on iTunes to mark the 60th anniversary of his first TV appearance. Speaking at the time, he said that “making people laugh and smile brings me a lot of personal satisfaction”. He added: “I am delighted to be still in the entertainment industry doing what I love most – 76 years since my career began.”
The 89-year-old, who played Claude Greengrass for eight years, had broken his hip in the accident.
His daughter-in-law, fellow actress Jacqueline Reddin, led the tributes to the “larger than life” performer.
She said: “He was so proud of the fact that he had been working for 81 years.
“He leaves a son and daughter, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.”
Former Heartbeat star Tricia Penrose, who teamed up with Bill in a recent episode of Pointless, tweeted: “R.I.P my lovely friend Bill Maynard it was only a few weeks ago I worked with you. You will be sadly missed.”
At one point more than 18million viewers tuned in to the show and enjoyed the lovable rogue’s rakish scams on the 1960s-set Yorkshire show.
The showbiz stalwart finally hung up his signature scruffy overcoat in 2000 after suffering a stroke in 1997 that saw scripts rewritten around his recovery.
But even after retiring from the show he