John Savident dead: Coronation Street star best known for playing butcher Fred Elliott dies aged 86

BELOVED Coronation Street star John Savident has died at the age of 86.

The actor was known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap.

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His agent said: "We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February.

"He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Savident first stepped on the cobbles in 1994 and quickly became a fan favourite.

His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals.

A secret son, Ashley Peacock also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together.

Savident's character was killed off in 2006, suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev Unwin.

Born in the Channel Islands, Savident was a cop before becoming an actor.

He was seconded to the vice squad in Manchester, where he was scouted for Corrie by Granada.

The veteran actor tired of life in the spotlight after he was stabbed at his Manchester flat in December 2000.

He had invited back Michael Smith, 30 - later jailed for seven years for the attack - to talk about theatre after they met in a nightclub.

Savident yearned to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren back home in Hertfordshire.

After leaving Corrie, he told the Mirror: "It was the show itself that did for me - it was breaking my heart.

" I was becoming an absentee husband, father and grandfather by spending so many hours working on The Street.

"I couldn't go on any longer - the whole situation was becoming ridiculous and deeply distressing."

More to follow.