Ant and Dec pay heartbroken tribute as Byker Grove co-star dies aged 49
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have paid tribute to their former Byker Grove star Dale Meeks, after the actor died aged 48.
The star was perhaps best known for appearing in Byker Grove as Denton Burn, where he co-starred alongside Ant and Dec. He also played Simon Meredith in the ITV soap Emmerdale, and most recently starred in The Hunt for Raoul Moat.
Posting on Twitter, the pair wrote: “We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale’s passing. He was the loveliest of guys, even though he was a Denton ‘Burner’, the arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad.”
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Dale’s brother Philip confirmed to PA that Dale passed away due to heart failure on Saturday evening, telling them: “My heart is broken.” Speaking about Ant and Dec’s tribute, he added: “That’s absolutely lovely. I sort of remember meeting them as kids myself. He (Dale) was in Byker Grove, he made one of them blind, not in real life.”
Fellow actress Jessica E. Porter also shared a tribute, writing: “It's difficult to put into words the love and devastation I feel over the loss of my dear friend and co-worker Dale Meeks. He was a beautiful soul with a charm and humour that really turned a dull day bright.”
“It has been especially hard to witness those close to him fall apart over his loss. I'm thankful to spend time with these people and reminisce in the greatness that was Dale Meeks. I'd say Fly High, but we all know how much he loved ghosts and horror, so I guess I'll see you in the shadows of the night.”
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