A soap star had told of her family’s heartache after her “perfectly fit” husband died in a freak swimming pool accident. Carol Royle said husband Julian Spear had jumped into a pool which he had expected to be heated.
Tragically it was freezing and he developed a massive brain haemorrhage. Posting on both Facebook and Instagram the actress, who has appeared in soaps Coronation Street and Crossroads, told of the family’s sorrow.
She wrote: “I am desperately sorry to post that we lost my wonderful husband, Julian Spear, today, 9th December. Perfectly fit man but jumped into a freezing outdoor pool which he assumed was heated as per usual yesterday, and he developed a sudden massive brain haemorrhage – our hearts are aching.
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“Married 47 yrs – known each other 56. Forgive me if I am not on Facebook very much for a while x” Her message also featured a broken heart emoji.
Carol Royle has been playing Anthea Deering in Coronation Street, the mother of Joel, who was murdered in a recent plot line. She became famous in the late 1980s when she appeared in the BBC Sitcom Life Without George.
She’s a familiar face on many hit TV programmes including as well as Blake’s 7, Dennis Potter’s Blackeyes, The Professionals, Heartbeat and Endeavour.
Her husband Julian Spear was a musician. His father, Bernard, who had a role in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.