John Savident's last sighting as Coronation Street's Fred Elliott dies at 86
Fred Elliot star, John Savident, made an appearance at a Gala Bingo Christmas party in 2013 in one of his last public sightings before he died, aged, 86.
The actor, whose death was announced by his agent today, can be seen smiling in the photo, taken in Manchester, and looking very smart wearing a sharp trilby hat, charcoal jacket and bright blue tie. John was also a guest on This Morning back in 2012 where he spoke about his tenure on the ITV soap as beloved butcher, Fred.
The father-of-two, who made his debut on the cobbles in 1994, quickly became a fan favourite on the soap with a host of juicy storylines, centred around his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals.
John Savident, who played beloved butcher Fred Elliot in Coronation Street, has died 86 (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)
He quickly became a fan favourite on Corrie (Granada Television)His 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 John would be leaving the Manchester-based soap, citing "personal reasons". Fred 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 made the decision to retire as he "wanted to spend more time with his family in Hertfordshire", claiming 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.
Coronation Street legend who played butcher Fred Elliott dies
"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'."
Announcing the news of his death, a statement from his agent today 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.”
Tributes have begun to pour in for the soap icon, with one person 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 wrote: "Oh, no! John Savident, known for playing Fred Elliott in Coronation Street, has died aged 86. What a legend! I say, I say!"
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