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Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear has revealed how she had to trick Bill Tarmey into filming one of his first scenes on the soap because he was so nervous.
Tarmey, who died earlier this month aged 71, played loveable layabout Jack Duckworth in the soap for more than 30 years.
Goodyear, who played Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch, told the Radio Times she had shared some "marvellous scenes" with him over the years.
She said: "I can remember one of the very first scenes I did with Bill on Coronation Street. He was terribly nervous and I did something very unprofessional: I had a quiet word with the floor manager and asked him not to announce that we were going for a take.
"I knew, in my heart, that if Bill could get one take under his belt then his confidence would soar. So Bill, thinking it was a rehearsal, was absolutely wonderful. And afterwards, his nerves kicked in again and he said, 'Oh Jules. We have to do a take now. I hope I'm half as good as that.'
"And I said, 'Billy, that was a take' And he threw his arms around me. He never forgot that. Afterwards the nerves went away and he made Jack Duckworth a fantastic character."
Goodyear said her friendship with Tarmey was "very deep" and continued after they both left the long-running ITV show.
She said: "We never lost touch. Never. He was very much the family man. His wife Ali was his absolute soulmate. And don't forget that he also had this beautiful singing voice - when he had his This Is Your Life, he sang The Wind beneath My Wings to Ali and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. He adored his family and his wife. In fact, it was their golden anniversary this year. So the news of his death is so very sad."
Press Association
