Emmerdale has paid a moving tribute to one of its former stars Dale Meeks following his tragic death aged 47. The news was announced by a family member on Facebook on Sunday (April 23) and prompted an influx of tributes including from Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly.
He previously played a gang leader of a rival youth club on the CBBC show Byker Grove and later appeared as Simon Meredith in the ITV soap. Most recently, Meeks appeared in the ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat, as Moat's friend Rory Sutcliffe. The ITV drama hit the screens recently, with Meeks appearing in an episode of the hit series just last week.
In a tribute on Twitter, Ant and Dec, who portrayed PJ and Duncan in Byker Grove at the start of their careers, wrote: "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."
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Following the airing of Monday night's episode of Emmerdale, a tribute to Meeks appeared on the soap's social media channels. It featured two pictures of the late actor from his time in the programme, including one alongside Nicola Wheeler who plays Nicola King as the pair dated on-screen.
"It's with real sadness that we mark the recent death of the immensely talented Dale Meeks who played Simon Meredith in Emmerdale for three years," the message began. "Dale made a lot of friends on the show and a lot of fans in the audience and he will be sadly missed by all."
They added: "The thoughts of the whole Emmerdale family are with his own family and friends at this very sad time." The post was quickly flooded with messages from devastated fans who praised the soap for recognising Meeks' death as they continued to pay their own tributes.
@goodwinsnelling said: "I'm glad finally someone posted this..he is just as important as any other." @_sue_g__ commented: "So sad, sending condolences to all friends and family." @pat.newell4 wrote: "RIP Dale, glad I was able to see you in your last ever acting role last week. Condolences to his family & friends."
@samjamesparrish shared: "Nooooo I remember him from when I was a kid watching Emmerdale! Bless him :( hope he has found some peace and condolences to his family." @maureen.marr.581 added: "I always remember him in Emmerdale, he played a lovely character, I had a mad crush on him too. Dale was a good actor, taken too young, such sad news."
As fans mentioned, Meeks was seen on-screen in ITV's recent drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat. He tweeted about his role in the new series, which tells the story of one of Britain's largest manhunts, in which murderer Raoul Moat killed his ex-girlfriend's new lover before shooting her and a police officer.
Alongside an article about the series, Meeks revealed that he had watched the show and shared a picture of the back of a blue door displaying signs titled Room 9 and Male. He penned: "Superb article. Sadly watching tonight's episode from this equally mysterious and sinister location.
"It's fantastic to feel the love. Thanks gang. Keep it coming xxx." And shocked fans have since been paying their respects to Dale beneath the final post.
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