Coronation Street fans have been sharing their own tributes after a death was confirmed. During the latest trip to the cobbles on Monday night (April 3), viewers of the ITV soap saw Debbie Webster return home after some time away. She had been visiting her dad Bill with her brother Kevin.
The siblings, played by Sue Devaney and Michael Le Vell, had rushed to his side after viewers were told Bill had suffered from a heart attack. However, as Debbie returned from their trip, she spoke to sister-in-law Abi about Bill's sad death. "Kev said it was peaceful," Abi said in a bid to comfort Debbie.
"I suppose it's how I'd like to go," she replied. "Horizontal and full to the brim with morphine. I'm going to go out and help with the arrangements and stuff. I should've stayed out there." But Abi reassured her: "You weren't to know, and at least you got to see him." Then, throughout the episode, Debbie was seen attempting to get pictures developed of her father before later being seen sobbing over them in Victoria Gardens.
Bill first appeared on the cobbles in 1984 and was played by actor Peter Armitage. The character married his second wife Elaine shortly after he first moved to Weatherfield and after getting married, the couple moved to Southampton, and later Germany, where their son Carl was born.
Bill returned to the cobbles in 1995 and stayed until leaving for Germany with Maureen, ten days after she married Fred Elliott, as she realised it was Bill she really loved. He returned again in 2006 and, after divorcing Maureen, had a relationship with Audrey Roberts before becoming engaged to Pam Hobsworth, who he also lived with.
By 2013, he had separated from Pam and was back living in Germany where he suffered another heart attack. He then suffered another heart attack in March 2023 and his death was confirmed in Monday's episode. But Peter, who plays Bill on and off for more than 30 years, sadly passed away in 2018.
And as news of Bill's death reached Corrie viewers, they flocked to social media to comment. @soapwikijohn tweeted: "I completely forgot that Peter Armitage passed away in 2018... so when Debbie said something about her father being ill I was like 'WHERE IS BILL!' :-( #Corrie."
@MitchellWebb85 said: "RIP Bill I know the actor Peter Armitage died back in 2018 but still sad news shame they could y get everyone back for an on-screen funeral though #Corrie." The Conversation Street podcast, @ConversationStr, added: "Aww, #Corrie confirmed the death of Bill Webster, Kevin and Debbie’s dad, played by Peter Armitage, who died in 2018. #coronationstreet."
At the time of Peter's death, ITV said in a statement: "Peter was a much respected and much-loved member of the Coronation Street family. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."
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