Bill Treacher will forever be remembered for his iconic portrayal of Arthur Fowler in EastEnders following his death at the weekend.
The actor died at the age of 92 on Saturday and the news was immediately met with an outpour of emotion from fans and former co-stars alike.
But, he once revealed he almost turned down the task of taking on the role as head of the Fowler family on the hit BBC soap.
His career first started after he attended the Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. There, he appeared in several West End stage shows before making his first appearance on TV in 1961 as he starred on ITV ’s Television Playhouse.
In the '70s, he played roles on the likes of Dad’s Army, Grange Hill, Minder and Z-Cars. He also appeared with John Carlisle in New Scotland Yard in 1973 and with Julia McKenzie in Maggie and Her in 1979.
In 1971, he married Australian actress Katherine Kessey and the pair lived in Suffolk with their children, Jamie and Sophie. Due to how content he was with his life at the time, Bill wasn’t initially sure that he wanted the role when the bosses of EastEnders came knocking.
The role of Arthur is said to have been written with him in mind by creator Julia Smith. In fact, the role of Arthur was the first character cast on the now long-running soap.
However, Bill feared taking on the role would drag him away from his family for too long, and the commute would be unbearable.
He once said: "I asked how long it would be on for and she said 52 weeks. I said, 'I can’t do that, I’ll never see my family'. I went away and thought about it and after three days I thought, 'Don’t be such a bloody fool – of course I have got to do it'."
In the end, Bill played Arthur on EastEnders for 11 years between 1985 and 1996.
Bill's death was confirmed in a family statement on Tuesday and they revealed his health had been in decline for some time.
The statement read: "The family of the actor Bill Treacher are sad to announce that Bill died late Saturday night, 5 November 2022.
"He was 92 years old and his health had been declining for some time. He was much loved by his wife, Kate, his son, Jamie and his daughter, Sophie.
"Bill was a brilliant actor and a wonderful husband and father, plus a very fine human being. He will be hugely missed. The family respectfully request privacy at this time."
