Ant and Dec called Dale Meeks 'the loveliest of guys' as they paid tribute to their former Byker Grove co-star, after his death at the age of 47.
It was one of Dale's relatives who broke the news of his death on Sunday afternoon, just a week after the South Shields born star appeared in ITV's new drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat. The Facebook post read: "So unbelievably sad. Brother in Law, mucca, side kick and just the BEST friend a lad could have wished for. RIP Dale Meeks. So much less to laugh about now you're not there to share it with."
Dale's family member added: "Thanks everyone for all the beautiful messages and memories you have been sharing. The support of Dale's friends has been so incredibly strong over these chaotic, heartbreaking final hours, I can only stand in awe."
READ MORE: Dale Meeks dies at 47 as tributes pour in for Emmerdale and Byker Grove star
Like Ant and Dec, fellow North East performer Dale got his big TV break in hit CBBC show Byker Grove back in the early 90s, playing one of the Grovers' arch rivals from neighbouring youth club Denton Burn. Dale then went onto star in Emmerdale and on stage in Chicago and Love Never Dies, before making a TV return to appear as one of Moat's friends in the true crime drama about the killer and his victims.
Viewers were delighted to see Dakle back on TV and, like them, Ant and Dec were left devastated to learn of his passing. The Geordie presenters took to Twitter to post: "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 the arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad."
There were plenty of replies to Ant and Dec's tweet, with one of their followers replying: "What a lovely actor he was so sad to hear this news .taken far too soon. Thinking of all of his family and friends." A second responded: "Nooo I was only talking about him yesterday when we saw him in The Hunt for Raoul Moat. Such sad news."
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