Bill Tarmey: 'I couldn't stay still filming death'

Bill Tarmey has admitted that he struggled to stay still while filming his Coronation Street death scenes.

The actor quit his role as Jack Duckworth after three decades in the Manchester serial. The much-loved character died after a short illness last November. The sad scenes also saw Liz Dawn reprise her role as Vera, as the popular couple were reunited.

"I was so useless I couldn't stay still when I was supposed to be dead," Tarmey told The Mirror. "A stagehand had to tell me to stop tapping my toe to the music. Then another one had to tell me to stop tapping my fingers."

ITV1 viewers will tonight see Tarmey honoured with two awards at the British Soap Awards. The actor received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award', while his on-screen death picked up the 'Best Soap Exit' accolade.



"It's ironic that a man who can't even play a dead body should receive such prestigious awards," he quipped.

Tarmey previously described his wins as a "tremendous honour," adding: "I still miss Jack. I wake up at five or six each morning thinking I've forgotten my script. Then I realise I'm retired. I'm still getting used to it but I don't regret my decision to quit."

The British Soap Awards will be broadcast tonight at 8pm on ITV1.

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