Bethany digs for dirt on Daisy, and the Barlows bid farewell as Tracy departs for Spain.

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News, Rumors & Scoop

John Savident Dies: ‘Coronation Street’ Actor Was 86

His agent confirmed his passing in a statement to press, saying: “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.”

Savident joined ITV soap in 1994 as a butcher with a disastrous love life. His comic timing and turn of phrase made him one of the long-running program’s most familiar faces before his character was killed off in 2006 after almost 1,000 episodes. His quirk of adding the words “I say” in between others has been widely parodied in the UK.

The Coronation Street X account shared an image of the actor, and wrote: “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.”

The actor also appeared in British TV dramas Doctor Who, Holby City and Above Suspicion, and BBC comedy Hotel Babylon. He acted in films such as A Clockwork Orange, Gandhi and Hudson Hawk, and was in the first staging of musical benemoth Phantom of the Opera in 1986, returning to his role as Monsieur Firmin in 2011 for a concert film at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jewish Soap Star Assigned Personal Bodyguard While Filming Outdoor Scenes

Veteran actress Dame Maureen Lipman was seen filming scenes for long-running soap Coronation Street this week in Manchester, accompanied by a security guard provided by her employer ITV.

The Sun reports that the decision to assign security to the actress follows her comments criticising other celebrities who had signed a petition by Artists for Palestine UK condemning Israel’s attacks on Gaza, in response to the invasion by Hamas on October 7.

Lipman, who is Jewish, called these signatories “bleeding heartless liberals” and said publicly at an event:

“When babies were garrotted, women dragged by their hair and a family had eyeballs gouged out and fingers chopped off in front of their children — do they really think that Israeli blockades on the border with Gaza justification for such acts of violence?

“Those bigoted signaturists, do they have no soul as well as no judgment?

“Those bleeding heartless liberals who care so deeply for the Palestinians?

“That they espouse their cause at the expense of every other oppressed people of the world?.?.?.?shame, shame, shame on every one of you.”

The Sun quotes Lipman expressing surprise at the decision to ramp up her security, but saying, “This is where we are now.”

The Community Security Trust has registered a record 805 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK in the 21 days after October 7, more than the total number for the first six months of this year.

ITV & Equity Progressing On Landmark Deal For Soap Actors That Would Include AI Provisions For The First Time

Unions in the U.S. fighting tooth and nail for AI rights will likely be paying close attention and we understand ITV and Equity negotiators are sitting down tomorrow to focus on this specific part of the union’s claim.

Furthermore, Deadline understands that these same AI provisions have been tabled for Equity’s upcoming negotiations with the BBC and UK producer trade body Pact, which govern the vast majority of TV series in the UK.

When they sit down together tomorrow, negotiators from ITV and Equity will discuss AI claims and what is known as synthesisation, the potential for actors’ faces to be cloned and used in other shows, thereby leading to less work for performers. The issue was brought to the fore in the recent Joan is Awful episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, which has felt a little too close to home for some in the TV and film community.

ITV and Equity sources stressed that the deal is still a way from being signed off for use in contractual arrangements.

A recent Equity AI toolkit flagged the issue of synthesisation as a key priority to protect actors in the future. It provided a template AI contract to protect artists engaging with performance cloning work, along with template clauses to protect artists from having their performance cloned without their consent.

UK broadcasters have so far tinkered round the edges with cloning, employing deepfakes rather than more technologically-advanced AI. Regulator Ofcom recently told broadcasters to “consider carefully” whether they need to update their compliance procedures to account for the risks involved with deepfake content. This followed shows such as ITVX’s Deep Fake Neighbour Wars, which used deepfakes of the likes of Kim Kardashian, Idris Elba and Greta Thunberg to create comedy impression sketches, along with BBC Two documentary I’m an Alcoholic: Inside Recovery, which employed superimposed deepfakes over the top of its contributors to protect their anonymity.

Equity’s negotiations with ITV over soaps produced by the broadcaster’s in-house studios division are further along than the BBC and Pact talks and should complete by the end of this year, we understand, allowing them to act as a blueprint for the BBC and Pact talks, which will likely go into 2024.

Speaking alongside U.S. actors union SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland last month, Equity General Secretary Paul Fleming said it is the “duty of unions to make sure members are educated about their rights” regarding AI.

An ITV spokeswoman said: “We’re having ongoing positive and constructive discussions around this issue with Equity. However, nothing has been finalised or signed off for inclusion in any contractual agreements.” Equity hadn’t responded to requests for comment by press time.

Beyond AI

Beyond AI, negotiations with ITV are complex but progressing, Deadline hears, with significant revision, improvements and modernisation being made to agreements that have not been updated for a number of years.

These contractual agreements govern areas such as pay, working conditions and compensation, topics that resonate with the goals of the WGA and SAG in the U.S. Along with AI provisions, Equity is demanding a 15% rise in basic pay as well as reporting provisions around secondary payments, akin to the U.S. unions’ demand for streaming residuals.

Equity’s Fleming has previously said that the union could be headed towards its own industrial dispute with Pact, which represents hundreds of UK production companies, if negotiations don’t bear fruit.

The strikes have hit the UK industry hard, contributing to a broader slowdown and less opportunity for freelancers. A petition calling on the government to financially support TV and film crew unable to work due to the strikes has so far amassed nearly 30,000 signatures.u00

British Actress Catherine Tyldesley Bemoans “Horrendous” Abuse Over Bizarre Birthday Cake Row

Catherine Tyldesley, an actress best known for her work in ITV soap Coronation Street, has revealed that she has received “horrendous” online abuse after being accused of taking advantage of a small bakery in the pursuit of free cake.

NVRLND, an events company tasked with organizing a 40th birthday party for Tyldesley, approached Yorkshire-based Three Little Birds bakery with a request to make a “camp as tits” themed birthday cake and 100 cupcakes in exchange for social media promotion.

Three Little Birds owner Rebecca Severs posted a screenshot of NVRLND’s emailed request on her company’s Facebook page. She also uploaded her response, in which she said: “I’m so sorry to hear that your client has fallen on such hard times they can’t afford to pay small businesses for their products.

“Unfortunately, as my mortgage provider doesn’t take payment ‘in the form of promotion on their socials’, and my staff can’t feed their kids with exposure on Instagram, I’ll have to decline your very generous offer.”

Tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail revealed that Tyldesley was the celebrity behind the birthday bash in a story on Wednesday, prompting the actress to issue a response on her Instagram profile.

In a post titled “CAKE GATE – The Truth,” Tyldesley denied knowledge of the emails from NVRLND and praised the events company. “The abuse I have been receiving online is horrendous so hopefully this will put an end to it,” she said. “I genuinely do hope the bakery have got some exposure and receive lots of new orders! I’ve always supported local and small businesses.”

NVRLND told the Mail that its emails to Three Little Birds had been “completely misconstrued” and it would have covered all of the bakery’s expenses and costs. “Our aim is to connect small local businesses with the opportunity of growth,” NVRLND said, adding that it was also working on an “expenses-only basis.”

In a Facebook post, Three Little Birds said: “We are blown away by all your support and so happy to see that so many other people agree that small business shouldn’t be taken advantage of!”

Former ‘Coronation Street’ Actress Receives Apology From Daily Mirror Publisher In Prince Harry Phone-Hacking Trial

The Daily Mirror publisher’s barrister said today that it “unequivocally apologizes” to Nikki Sanderson, having admitted that it used private investigators to obtain stories about her. Sanderson alleges the newspapers used information from her mobile phone voicemails which were hacked, and paid private investigators to get personal information about her.

Sanderson is claiming damages for 37 articles published in the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People newspapers between 1999 and 2009. MGN admitted that on four occasions journalists used investigators to target the actor on one of the UK’s most-watched soaps, which she joined when she was just 15.

Sanderson was reported by the BBC to have described her experience as “abuse,” a word she said she didn’t use lightly.

The trial is part of a plus-100 claimant phone-hacking and privacy suit taking place in London at present, which has attracted global headlines due to Prince Harry’s appearance earlier this week.

Yesterday, Morgan, who edited the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004, was accused of “injecting” information into the stories of the paper’s former Royal Editor.

In a written statement, Jane Kerr said Morgan “engaged with the [Buckingham] Palace press offices and would occasionally direct or inject information into a story.”

Many of her stories concerned Prince Harry, who was a teenager at the time and alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 by MGN contained information gathered using unlawful methods.

He took to the stand earlier this week, the first royal in more than 100 years to appear in the UK’s high court. Harry used his appearance to claim Morgan makes him feel “physically sick” as he blasted the tabloid press for “inciting hatred.”

Stephen Greif Dies: ‘The Crown’ & ‘Blake’s 7’ Actor Was 78

Greif’s long career spanned theater, television and film. Born in Hertfordshire, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to become a member of the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic and Southbank, the UK Press Association reported.

Starring on stage throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Greif segued to television and landed the role of space commander Travis in sci-fi adventure series Blake’s 7. The show ran from 1978-1981 and also starred Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow, Michael Keating and Sally Knyvette.

Greif’s credits also included such other series as Citizen Smith, Tales of the Unexpected, Doctors, Coronation Street, The Bill and EastEnders. He also appeared in an episode of ABC’s Hart to Hart and in ABC mini-series The Last Days of Pompeii. More recently, he appeared in TNT limited series The Alienist and in Season 4 of The Crown, he portrayed Speaker of the House Sir Bernard Weatherill.

Feature credits included 2015’s The Woman in Gold, 2005’s Casanova and The Upside of Anger and 2004’s Spartan.

A statement from his reps at Michelle Braidman Associates read, “With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif… We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

‘Doctor Who’: Millie Gibson To Star Opposite Ncuti Gatwa As The Companion

“Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honored to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have traveled in before me. And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started,” she said in a statement.

Added her new co-star Gatwa, “Millie just is the companion. She is full of talent, strength, she has a cheeky sparkle in her eye and is sharp as a razor. From the moment she walked into the room she captured all of our attention with her effervescence and then solidified that attention with the sheer torque of her talent. This adventure is going to be so wild and so fun, I cannot WAIT to sail the universe with Millie!”

Series showrunner Russell T. Davies calls Gibson a “star” as he sets a new cast for the next generation—as well as the legions of devoted Doctor Who fans who will watch the new iteration.

“It’s the great honor of my job to find the next generation of talent, and Millie shines like a star already. She’s brilliant, dynamic, clever, and a wonderful actor,” he said. “As a Coronation Street fan, I’ve seen Millie survive chases, guns, and sieges, but that’s nothing compared to what lies ahead for Ruby Sunday.”

It was recently announced that Doctor Who is teleporting to Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. In October, the BBC and Disney Branded Television said they intend to take the already well-established franchise to even greater heights. New episodes of the series, starring Gatwa in the title role, will debut on the BBC and Disney+ in late 2023. In the U.S., the show — which originated in 1963 — had aired in recent years on BBC America. (HBO Max also has past seasons.)

Cary Grant Biopic Series ‘Archie’ Starring Jason Isaacs Sets Cast

Jeff Pope’s series, revealed by Deadline in August, will also star Laura Aikman (Bluestone 42, Gavin and Stacey) as Cary’s ex-wife Dyan Cannon with Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso, Killing Eve) as Elise Leach, Grant’s mother. Dainton Anderson (Patrick Melrose), Calam Lynch (Bridgerton) and Oaklee Pendergast (Home) will play young versions of Archie Leach and Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge, The Halcyon, Sound of Music Live) will play young Elsie. Meanwhile, Henry Lloyd-Hughes (Ragdoll), Ian Pulston-Davies (DI Ray, Coronation Street), Ian McNeice (Doc Martin), Jason Watkins (McDonald & Dodds, Des), Lisa Faulkner (EastEnders) and Niamh Cusack (The Virtues) have boarded.

The show from Pope’s rebranded ITV Studios label Etta Pictures is intercuts scenes from Hollywood’s leading man’s early life and 1961 at the height of his fame, with that version of Grant played by Harry Potter star Isaacs.

Archie will start with his birth in Bristol in 1904 and tell the story of a childhood spent in extreme poverty, dealing with his father’s adultery and the loss of older brother John. At 14, he joined music hall act the Bob Pender Troupe and moved to the U.S. and, soon after, Cary Grant was born.

Cannon gave Pope her blessing and is an exec on the project alongside Grant’s daughter Jennifer Grant.

Archie will be one of the flagship launches on new ITV streamer ITVX later this year, before being handed a linear premiere months later. ITV Studios is distributing.

Bernard Cribbins Dies: Veteran British Actor Who Starred In ‘The Railway Children’ & ‘The Wombles’ Was 93

Cribbins’ agent, Gavin Barker Associates, confirmed the news to Deadline in a statement.

“Beloved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has passed away at the age of 93. His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60’s song Right Said Fred a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles,” the statement read. “He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat. He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.”

The statement continued: “Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”

Born in Oldham on December 29, 1928, Cribbins made several big-screen appearances, including in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1972 film Frenzy, for which he played the barman Felix Forsythe. Cribbins also went on to make regular appearances on Doctor Who as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of the Doctor’s popular companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.

He also made recurring appearances on the British soap drama Coronation Street. Off-screen, Cribbins had a successful musical career with two top-10 hits in 1962, with Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred.

Other Cribbins credits include The Mouse on the Moon (1963), The Girl on the Boat (1962), Langley Bottom (1968), Carry on Columbus (1992), and Blackball (2003).

In 2011, he was was awarded an OBE for services to drama.

June Brown Dies: ‘EastEnders’ Star And UK TV Icon Was 95

Brown played the iconic Dot Cotton in the long running BBC soap opera for more than 30 years, and was much loved in UK entertainment circles.

She passed away peacefully on Sunday evening with her family by her side at her home in Surrey, England.

Actor and broadcaster Fry tweeted: “June Brown, amongst all her other wonderful human qualities and achievements, will be remembered as a tireless and fearless LGBT ally – especially during the darkest days of HIV/AIDS and Section 28 [legislation that banned ‘promotion of homosexuality’]… it was a privilege to know her.”

British actor and musician Martin Kemp, who appeared with Brown in EastEnders in the late 1990s and early 2002s, wrote on Twitter: “I was such a small part of your 35 years at EastEnders but you were a massive part of my time there.”

Bafta released a statement saying: “We’re deeply saddened to hear of the death of June Brown”, while gameshow presenter Vernon Kay called her “an incredible woman” after meeting her on the set of gameshow Family Fortunes.

Brown joined EastEnders’ cast in 1985, the same year it was created.

A spokesperson for the show paid tribute to the actress, saying: “There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.

“June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television, and having appeared in 2,884 episodes, June’s remarkable performances created some of EastEnders‘ finest moments.

“We send all our love and deepest sympathies to June’s family and friends. A very bright light has gone out at EastEnders today – we shall all be raising a sweet sherry in June’s memory. Rest in peace, our dearest June. You will never be forgotten.”

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Facts

1. Opening theme is by Eric Spear.

2. Coronation Street and rival soap opera EastEnders had a crossover for Children in Need in November 2010 called "East Street". EastEnders stars that visited Weatherfield include Laurie Brett as Jane Beale, Charlie G. Hawkins as Darren Miller, Kylie Babbington as Jodie Gold, Nina Wadia as Zainab Masood and John Partridge as Christian Clarke.

3. Corrie was originally going to be called Florizel Street but the story goes that the title was changed after a Granada TV cleaner remarked on how the name supposedly sounded like a disinfectant.

4. Married five times, Gail is the most-wed character. (As of December 2013)

5. There have been 93 weddings. Mike Baldwin and Jackie Ingram had the shortest marriage, their wedded bliss lasting just seven days in 1991. (As of December 2013)

6. More than 5,000 characters have appeared during the soap’s long history. (As of December 2013)

7. It’s estimated that if real the Rovers pub would served more than 3.5 million pints since the soap started. The ‘beer’ used on the show is very weak shandy.

8. A new purpose-built set for the show was unveiled last month. Based at Salford Quays close to the BBC's HQ, it is the fifth interpretation of the celebrated street and took about 3,000 workers more than two years to create. Of the 400,000 bricks used on the lot, 144,000 of them were reclaimed from a derelict row of properties in Salford.

9. Deaths greatly outnumber births in the show’s long history - 160 people bumped off (including heart attacks, car accidents, suicides, cancer, murders and electrocutions) to 47 babies born. (As of December 2013)

10. Famous people you may have seen treading the famous Weatherfield cobbles include Joanna Lumley; Ben Kingsley; Ian McKellen; Stephanie Beacham; Patricia Routledge; Patrick Stewart; Martin Shaw; June Whitfield; Anna Friel; Nigel Havers.

11. Ken Barlow’s son Peter Barlow is the character to have been played by the most actors. The current performer Chris Gascoyne is the seventh to have had the role. (As of December 2013)

12. As the show’s sole-surviving original character, Ken Barlow has spent the longest time in Coronation Street followed by Emily Bishop.

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