Bill Tarmey's Funeral: 'Coronation Street' Stars Say Goodbye To The Soap's Jack Duckworth (PICTURES)

PICTURES: 'Corrie' Stars Turn Out To Remember A Street Legend
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Stars and fans of 'Coronation Street' have turned out to say an emotional goodbye to Bill Tarmey at his funeral.

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Liz Dawn attends the funeral of Bill Tarmey, who played her long-suffering husband Jack Duckworth for more than three decades

Bill, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades, won the affection of millions of TV viewers as a lovable, pigeon-fancying rogue - with his trademark glasses held together with sticky tape.

The actor, who became one of TV's most recognisable faces as the long-suffering husband of Liz Dawn's nagging, battle-axe wife Vera, died aged 71, while on holiday in Tenerife on 9 November.

Bill Tarmey Funeral
Bill Tarmey funeral(01 of23)
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Coronation Street stars Lucy-Jo Hudson and Alan Halsall, arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(02 of23)
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Coronation Street cast member Jennie McAlpine and Brooke Vincent arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(03 of23)
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Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear who plays Bet Lynch and Alec Gilroy arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(04 of23)
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Coronation Street stars Sue Nicholls (left) and Helen Worth (right) arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(05 of23)
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Retired actress Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, in Coronation Street, leaves Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, following the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(06 of23)
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Former Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear who played Bet Lynch, leaves Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, following the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(07 of23)
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Coronation Street actors Samia Ghadi (left) and Jennie McAlpine, leave Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, following the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(08 of23)
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Coronation Street actors Samia Ghadi leaves Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, following the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(09 of23)
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Coronation Street producers Phil Collinson (left) and Tony Warren the creator of Coronation Street, arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(10 of23)
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Coronation Street star William Roach who plays Ken Barlow, arrives at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(11 of23)
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Coronation Street stars Sue Nicholls (left) and Helen Worth (right) arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(12 of23)
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Retired actress Liz Dawn (left), who played Vera Duckworth, in Coronation Street, arrives at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne, for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(13 of23)
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Pall bearers carry the coffin of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades, as it arrives at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for his funeral. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(14 of23)
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Pall bearers carry the coffin of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades, as it arrives at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for his funeral. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(15 of23)
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Kevin Kennedy arrives at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(16 of23)
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Coronation Street cast members Katie Ford (left) and Shobna Gulati (right) arrive at Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey funeral(17 of23)
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Media gather outside Albion United Reformed church, in Ashton Under Lyne for the funeral of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, who played the soap's Jack Duckworth for three decades. (credit:PA)
Entertainment - Coronation Street - Manchester (18 of23)
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Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn sing together at the Coronation Street charity party (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey death(19 of23)
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File photo dated 22/09/97 of former Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, as Julie Goodyear has revealed how she had to trick him into filming one of his first scenes on the soap because he was so nervous. (credit:PA)
CORONATION STREET ON HOLIDAY(20 of23)
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STARS OF CORONATION STREET (L/R) JACK & VERA DUCKWORTH (BILL TARMEY & LIZ DAWN) WITH THEIR GRANDSON TOMMY (DARYL EDWARDS) AND MARTIN & GAIL PLATT (SEAN WILSON & HELEN WORTH) WITH THEIR CHILDREN, SARAH (LYNDSAY KING) & DAVID (THOMAS ORMSON) AT TALACRE CARAVAN PARK. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey death(21 of23)
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File photo dated 02/07/99 of former Coronation Street stars, Liz Dawn and Bill Tarmey, who played Jack and Vera Duckworth for many years, as Bill Tarmey died this morning, a spokeswoman for the show said. (credit:PA)
JACK DUCKWORTH LAUNCHES BEER(22 of23)
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BILL TARMEY, ALIAS"CORONATION STREET"'SJACK DUCKWORTH PUTS HIS FEET UP AFTERDISCOVERING A REVOLUTIONARY NEW WAY OFMAKING LAGER, FOR HOME COMSUMPTION, BYADDING WATER TO A CONCENTRATE INMANCHESTER. (credit:PA)
Television - Granada TV Series - Coronation Street(23 of23)
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Jack Duckworth played by Bill Tarmey, and Tina Fowler played by Michelle Holmes in the Rovers Return pub, Coronation Street. (credit:PA)

The former builder dreamed of becoming a singing star and was eeking out a living as a crooner in working men's clubs before joining 'Coronation Street' in 1977 as an extra to supplement his earnings.

Bill landed the role of Jack Duckworth two years later and, despite his modesty about his acting ability, a Street legend was born, who stayed with the show for another 31 years.

His on-screen partnership with sharp-tongued wife Vera gave the show some of its most funny and memorable moments and the pair became centre-stage to the soap's popularity.

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Jack and Vera Duckworth (Bill Tarmey and Elizabeth Dawn) made one of Coronation Street's most popular couples

His funeral is taking place in his home town of Ashton-under-Lyne, on the outskirts of east Manchester, where he grew up in humble circumstances after his father was killed in the Second World War.

Bill married his childhood sweetheart Alison - to whom he remained married for 50 years - and they had two children.

A heavy smoker, he underwent a quadruple heart bypass in 1986, and then another bypass operation in June 2002, but he long refused to give up smoking.

Jack Duckworth went on to be written out of the 'Street' in 2010, a year after he had originally considered leaving, but Bill Tarmey was persuaded to hang on a little longer with the aim of continuing until the show's 50th anniversary.

In pictures: Remembering the Street legend...

Bill Tarmey
(01 of25)
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Viva Las Vegas as Jack and Vera Duckworth (Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn) rekindle their romance in the gambling capital of the World, in a special Coronation Street video. The 75-minute video is due to go on sale on November 17. Pic Dave Kendall. (credit:PA)
(02 of25)
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Coronation Street stars Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn (Jack and Vera Duckworth) enjoy a day out with other cast members at Haydock Racecourse in Merseyside, where they filmed an episode of the show. (credit:PA)
(03 of25)
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Coronation Street stars Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn (Jack and Vera Duckworth) enjoy a day out with other cast members at Haydock Racecourse in Merseyside, where they filmed an episode of the show. (credit:PA)
Bill Tarmey(04 of25)
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Coronation Street actor Bill Tarmey, Jack Duckworth in the ITV soap. (credit:PA)
(05 of25)
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Viva Las Vegas as Jack (left) and Vera Duckworth (Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn) meet up with Street veteran Ray Langton (actor Neville Buswell) in the gambling capital of the World, in a special Coronation Street video. The 75-minute video is due to go on sale on November 17. (credit:PA)
(06 of25)
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Jack (Bill Tarmey) and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) in the soap's Christmas video. Joan, 64, makes a cameo appearance when Jack and Vera fly home from Las Vegas to London. (credit:PA)
(07 of25)
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(08 of25)
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Jack Duckworth played by Bill Tarmey, and Tina Fowler played by Michelle Holmes in the Rovers Return pub, Coronation Street. (credit:PA)
Betty Driver funeral(09 of25)
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(l-r) Bill Tarmey, Sally Lindsay and Antony Cotton leave St Ann's Church in Manchester city centre after the funeral service for Betty Driver. (credit:PA)
(10 of25)
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Members of the cast of ITV's soap opera Coronation Street, crowded around a cake replica of the street at the celebration to mark its 25th anniversary at the Dorchester Hotel. Front row, left to right, Julie Goodyear, Eileen Derbyshire, Thelma Barlow, William Roache, Jean Alexander and Betty Driver. Back row, left to right, Liz Dawn, Nigel Pivaro, Anne Kirkbride, Bryan Mosley and Bill Tarmey. (credit:PA)
Coronation Street Christmas Party - Manchester(11 of25)
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Bill Tarmey attends the Coronation Street Christmas party at Revolution bar in Manchester. (credit:PA)
Coronation Street filming - Manchester(12 of25)
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Jack Duckworth (played by Bill Tarmey) takes Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall) and Molly Dobbs (played by Vicky Binns) to show them the house that belongs to his new partner Connie Rathbone (played by Rita May). (credit:PA)
Coronation Street filming - Manchester(13 of25)
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Jack Duckworth (played by Bill Tarmey) takes Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall) and Molly Dobbs (played by Vicky Binns) to show them the house that belongs to his new partner Connie Rathbone (played by Rita May). (credit:PA)
Coronation Street filming - Manchester(14 of25)
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Jack Duckworth (played by Bill Tarmey) takes Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall) and Molly Dobbs (played by Vicky Binns) to show them the house that belongs to his new partner Connie Rathbone (played by Rita May). (credit:PA)
Coronation Street filming - Manchester(15 of25)
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Jack Duckworth (played by Bill Tarmey) takes Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall) and Molly Dobbs (played by Vicky Binns) to show them the house that belongs to his new partner Connie Rathbone (played by Rita May). (credit:PA)
Coronation Street Photocall - Manchester(16 of25)
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Coronation Street's Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) was joined by Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster) and Patrick Allen who is the marketing director for the co-op, who now sponsor the All Star football team. (credit:PA)
Coronation Street Christmas Party - Manchester(17 of25)
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Actor Bill Tarmey joined the Coronation Street cast for their christmas party held at 235 Casino in Manchester. (credit:PA)
corrie xmas.(18 of25)
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Bill Tarmey and wife arrive for the Coronation Street Christmas Party at the Lowry Hotel in Manchetser. (credit:PA)
Pat Pheonix Funeral(19 of25)
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Coronation Street stars William Tarmey (Jack Duckworth), Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), and Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) arrive for the funeral of former Coronation Street star Pat Phoenix. (credit:PA)
(20 of25)
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Bill Tarmey has managed a swift recovery from a heart surgery and is back on the Coronation St for a corporate event in Manchester. Half length. (credit:PA)
(21 of25)
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Ken Roache and Bill Tarmey photographed arriving for lunch with the Coronation Street bosses to discuss their performances. half length. (credit:PA)
(22 of25)
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Bill Tarmey and wife, arrive at the Coronation Street Christmas Party at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester. (credit:PA)
Norman At Ninety - Tribute Luncheon(23 of25)
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Actor Bill Tarmey arrives at the 'Norman At Ninety' Tribute Luncheon at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on February 18, 2005 in London. Members of showbiz fraternity and charity The Grand Order Of Water Rats and other celebrity friends help celebrate Wisdom's 90 birthday, which was February 4. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(24 of25)
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Coronation Street Actors (left/right) (real name-stage name) Bill Tarmey-Jack Duckworth, Tracy Shaw-Maxine, Angela Griffin-Fiona Middleton and Liz Dawn-Vera Duckworth, attend the premiere of Viva Las Vegas, a Coronation Street Video Film to be sold from 17th November. Photo by Adam Butler/PA (credit:PA)
(25 of25)
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Coronation Street stars Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn attending the Inside Soap Awards Party at The Mayfair Club in London. (credit:PA)