'Coronation Street' actor Bill Tarmey has said his health problems are the reason he has taken the difficult decision to leave the show in heartbreaking scenes which will see his character Jack Duckworth die.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tarmey said the move to leave the show after 31 years has left him utterly bereft but he has been battling heart problems for more than 30 years and has actually "died" twice.
Jack will die on his birthday on November 7 in the same chair where his wife Vera passed away two years ago. He described his last number of weeks filming on the show as agonising. He finished just two weeks ago.
69-year-old Bill said "It has been one hell of a ride. But it has come to an end. You wouldn't believe, kid, how hard it has been for me to leave the Street. That place has been my family for 30 years. Leaving has been painful."
"I've loved sharing my life with Jack," says Bill. "I'm not sure whether he has liked sharing his with me, though!"
Bill said "Retiring was a very hard decision to make. It wasn't just like retiring from a normal job. I was also bringing to an end a character who has become known and loved across the country.
"But the time had come. I wanted to go last year but my wife Ali and the producer said, 'Come on, Bill, stick with it for the 50th anniversary for the fans.' And so I said, 'Yeah, OK.'"
The actor has had extreme breathing difficulties for many years. He has also had hearing issues and sleep apnea.
