23 February 2024 , 11:23
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John Savident, known for playing Fred Elliott in Coronation Street, has died aged 86.
The 86-year-old was known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap between 1994 until his departure in 2006. His character was instantly recognisable to millions for his bubbly yet often confrontational personality and famous saying: "I say."
A statement from his agent said: "We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February, he was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him." The Guernsey-born legend is survived by his wife, Rona Hopkinson and his two sons and several grandchildren.
Coronation Street has paid tribute to the actor with ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, Iain MacLeod, saying: "Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death. As Fred Elliott, John firmly established himself in the pantheon of Coronation Street greats.
"His peerless comic timing, combined with a deep pathos arising from his outstanding dramatic skill, made Fred an unforgettable, iconic character that provided great joy to viewers for many years. On behalf of everyone here, I would like to extend condolences to John’s family and close friends at this sad time."
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John Savident was known to millions across the world (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)In an emotional statement shared with The Mirror, Sue Nicholls who plays Audrey Roberts said: "I am very sad to hear of John’s passing. My memories of working with you dear John on the street are a joy, and always will be. God bless you and thank you for being in my life. Much love to you and your friends and family."
In 1994, Savident arrived on the cobbles and quickly became a fan favourite. His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals. A secret son, Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together. In 2005 it was announced that Savident would be leaving the Manchester-based soap, citing "personal reasons". Savident's character was killed off in 2006, suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev Unwin, played by Susie Blake.
John later revealed that he decided to retire as he "wanted to spend more time with his family in Hertfordshire." He later said he would have stayed on the soap if bosses had made his workload slightly lighter. Speaking to The People, he said: "I did think they might find some way to accommodate me.
"Quite honestly I was surprised and disappointed that they didn't try a bit harder. I told them a year in advance that I was going and then they took me out for dinner and said, 'We're not going to insult you, John, by trying to make you stay'. And I'm sitting there thinking, 'Please, go on, insult me'."
Despite leaving the show in 2006, John's character made an unexpected return in 2020 which left some viewers "baffled". During one scene, debt collector Sharon Geary could be heard calling Adam Barlow, Fred Elliot, while talking to Gary Windass. She said: "Fred Elliot has been here batting his eyelashes at Laura." A puzzled Gary asked: "Fred Elliot?" She responded: "Good looking bloke in the suit, hair. Scottish." "You mean Adam Barlow," he corrected.
Tributes have now poured in for the soap icon from fans and stars of the entertainment industry. Screenwriter Daran Little said: "Oh darling John Savident. So many happy memories forever in my heart. Rest in peace my friend, Big D xx," while sharing a snap of the pair.
John's character had a no-nonsense attitude in the soap (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, writing: "Gawd bless you John Savident, I SAY God bless you. One of Corrie's finest, truly unforgettable classic characters and a marvellous actor." Another penned: "Oh, no! John Savident, known for playing Fred Elliott in Coronation Street, has died aged 86. What a legend! I say, I say!"
"Absolutely heartbroken, thank you for the legendary Fred Elliott he will always be the best Coronation Street character of all time," said a third. Meanwhile, another typed: "Coronation Street's Fred Elliott dies aged 86. This makes me very sad, I say, very sad." One Coronation Street fan page penned: "Saddened to hear of the passing of John Savident who played #Corrie’s eccentric butcher, Fred Elliott. Fred was the epitome of a #ClassicCorrie character and will be remembered for years to come, I say years to come. RIP John."
While John maintained a low profile after leaving the soap, he continued to work and appeared in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as the henchman, alongside Corrie co-star Suranne Jones and the likes of Justin Moorhouse and Warwick Davis. But his last credit saw him take on the role of Gary Brennan in the 2019 production of The Life and Times of Mim Stewart. Eight years prior, he played Monsieur Firmin in The Phantom of the Opera at The Royal Albert Hall.
He was in the first staging of the musical Phantom Of The Opera, in October 1986, at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket, London, as the opera house owner Monsieur Firmin. He also appeared in political comedy Yes, Minister, Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian thriller A Clockwork Orange, biopic Gandhi, war film Battle Of Britain, science fiction series Doctor Who and period dramas The Remains Of The Day and Middlemarch.
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In 2002, a former rent boy who violently attacked John after meeting in Manchester's gay village was jailed for seven years. John met Michael Smith, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, at a bar on Canal Street before later stabbing him in the neck. Initially, reporting restrictions were in place until his sentencing on December 10, 2002.
The actor previously gave evidence in court after being held at knifepoint by a former rent boy who injured his neck with the weapon (Mcpix Ltd/REX/Shutterstock)
The actor walked away from the ITV soap in 2006 (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)Manchester Crown Court heard that Smith had told John he was a drama student when they met at Napoleon's when John was taking part in an appearance for World Aids Day in November 2000. The pair later went back to John's flat and spent hours talking with one another before things turned sinister.
Savident told the court that he had gone into his bedroom to charge his phone before he was shoved facedown onto his bed and held at knifepoint by Smith. The shaken actor said: "I suddenly felt somebody come up behind me and whizz me round so I was face down on the bed and then I felt a prick on my throat. He said something like 'I bet you have never met a schizo before', which was really quite frightening."
During the frightening attack, John lost two pints of blood and his neck was pierced twice. Smith, who had consumed beer and half a litre of vodka later demanded the keys to John's Morgan classic sports car. Despite thinking he was going to die, John made a heartbreaking plea to the emergency response operator to keep the news quiet.
He pleaded: "I am John Savident. I play Fred Elliott in Coronation Street." One week after the attack, John was seen on screen wearing a large plaster on his neck which was said to be down to a "butchering accident". Following his exit from the soap, John refused to watch Coronation Steet. In 2011, he said: "Honestly I rarely watch Corrie now. Some of the young people just want to be on screen and have no ambition to act elsewhere – what future do they have when their contract ends?
"One of them asked me who this Laurence Olivier was I was talking about as he’d never heard of him! Olivier was my hero and I had the honour of working with him on a couple of occasions." John also said that there had been a string of celebrities appearing on the show, which left soap stars annoyed.
"Don't get me started on that score," he said, before going on to add: "I took Sir Ian McKellen to task by asking how he could play a role in Corrie which meant some poor actor who needed the work lost out. He didn’t reply – just hung his head."