Stephen Hancock, who played Ernest Bishop in ‘Coronation Street’, has died at the age of 89.
The actor died on 1 November, The Guardian reports, and a ‘Corrie’ spokesperson has shared condolences on behalf of the soap’s cast and crew.
Stephen Hancock
They tell Digital Spy: “We are saddened to hear of Stephen's death and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
"In Ernest Bishop, Stephen created a character that will always be remembered by ‘Coronation Street’ fans, Ernest's dramatic exit from the soap is still one of the most memorable moments in the show's history."
Stephen landed the role of Ernest, which he held for 10 years, after making a brief appearance as a different character in an Elsie Tanner wedding episode.
His exit became one of the soap’s most memorable moments, when Ernest was killed off during a shooting at the factory.
Stephen made appearances in a number of other popular TV shows, popping up in ‘Heartbeat’, ‘Agatha Christie: Poirot’, and ‘Crossroads’.
