Emmerdale star Dale Meeks has died aged 47, his household has mentioned.
The actor performed Simon Meredith within the ITV cleaning soap Emmerdale from 2003-2006. Mr Meeks additionally starred in CBBC present Byker Grove and ITV true crime drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat, which aired simply final week.
The 47-year-old’s dying was introduced by a member of the family in a submit on Fb. His reason behind dying has not been revealed.
The submit learn: “So unbelievably unhappy. Brother in Legislation, mucca, facet kick and simply the BEST good friend a lad might have wished for. RIP Dale Meeks. A lot much less to snigger about now you’re not there to share it with.
“Thanks everybody for all the gorgeous messages and recollections you may have been sharing. The assist of Dale’s buddies has been so extremely robust over these chaotic, heartbreaking closing hours, I can solely stand in awe.”
Tributes have flooded in for the actor, together with from Ant and Dec, who starred in Byker Grove alongside Mr Meeks.
The duo tweeted: “We’re so extremely sorry to listen to the very unhappy information of Dale’s passing. He was the loveliest of fellows, though he was a Denton ‘Burner’, the arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’! A tragic loss at such a younger age. RIP Dale. Sleep nicely bonny lad.”
Fellow actor Stephen Sullivan mentioned: “Dale Meeks was an inspiration to me, watching the band once I was youthful, watching him carry out on stage, seeing him on the telly field and dealing with him. He was such a expertise. He had a lot extra to present. He was beloved and revered greater than he knew. The final time I labored with him was an absolute pleasure.”
He added: “It hasn’t sunk in but and immediately has been considerably of a blur. Dale, you’ll be dearly missed, you had a coronary heart as large as your expertise and a way of humour and snigger greater than each!”
Followers additionally paid tribute to Mr Meeks. One fan wrote: “It hasn’t sunk in but and immediately has been considerably of a blur. Dale, you’ll be dearly missed, you had a coronary heart as large as your expertise and a way of humour and snigger greater than each!”
One other mentioned: “Saddened to listen to of the Passing of Dale Meeks the Emmerdale and Byker Grove star sending condolences to his household and buddies RIP Dale Meeks #Emmerdale #BykerGrove #DaleMeeks”.
A good friend of Mr Meeks wrote: “An exquisite human who was at all times there as a assist. Proud to have recognized and labored with you great soul.”
Mr Meeks started his performing profession by starring in Byker Grove, and most just lately performed Moat’s good friend Rory Sutcliffe in three-part collection The Hunt for Raoul Moat.
The 47-year-old additionally appeared in Casualty, drama collection Inspector George Gently and performed a custody sergeant in Tracey Beaker spin-off The Dumping Floor.
Exterior of TV, Mr Meeks was a part of the forged of musical Chicago and had a task in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love By no means Dies.
Mr Meeks just lately tweeted about his function in The Hunt for Raoul Moat. “Sadly watching tonight’s episode from this equally mysterious and sinister location. It’s unbelievable to really feel the love. Thanks gang. Hold it coming xxx,” he mentioned in a Twitter submit on Monday.