John Savident obit

John Savident, who starred as butcher Fred Elliott in Coronation Street, dies aged 86

 He was not on the list.

Actor John Savident, famed for his role as butcher Fred Elliott in Coronation Street, has died aged 86.

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

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

The Guernsey-born actor quickly became a fan favourite on the soap, known for his bald head and booming voice.

Fred Elliott's disastrous love life rivalled any other on the street and his three marriages only told part of the story. Fred got down on one knee several times, only to be told "no".

Fred had a secret son, Ashley Peacock, and the two later developed a close bond.

Elliott’s death also saw Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) confess that she still loved him following her turning down his proposal of marriage years previously.

The butcher’s previous wives also include Maureen Holdsworth (Sherrie Hewson) and barmaid Eve Sykes (Melanie Kilburn).

Nicholls said: “I am very sad to hear of John’s passing. My memories of working with you dear John on the street are a joy, and always will be.

“God bless you and thank you for being in my life. Much love to you and your friends and family.”

Outside Coronation Street, Savident was in political comedy Yes, Minister, Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian thriller A Clockwork Orange, biopic Gandhi, war film Battle Of Britain, science fiction series Doctor Who and period dramas The Remains Of The Day and Middlemarch.

He was in the first staging of the musical Phantom Of The Opera, in October 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket, London, as the opera house owner Monsieur Firmin.

He returned to play the character in 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall concert film.

After leaving his soap work, Savident appeared on stage in productions of panto Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and Harold Brighouse’s Hobson’s Choice.

Savident was married to theatre director Rona Hopkinson and they had two children.

 

Filmography

Robbery (1967) – Policeman with Dog (uncredited)

The White Bus (1967) – Supporter

The Avengers (1968) - Henry Winthrop

Inadmissible Evidence (1968) – Mr. Watson

Otley (1969) – Businessman

Before Winter Comes (1969) – British Corporal

Battle of Britain (1969) – RAF Officer (uncredited)

Waterloo (1970) – Muffling

A Family at War (1970-1972, TV Series) – George Askew

Man of Straw (1972, TV series) – Von Wulchow

The Raging Moon (1971) – Fete Guest

A Clockwork Orange (1971) – Conspirator Dolin

Tightrope (1972) - Forrester

Penny Gold (1973) – Sir Robert Hampton

Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) – Hewel

Diamonds on Wheels (1974) – Steward

Butley (1974) – James (uncredited)

QB VII (1974) – Anaesthetist

Galileo (1974) – Second Senator

Looking For Clancy (1975) – Sir John Kernan

Trial by Combat (1976) – Oliver Griggs – Police Commissioner

Raffles (1976) (TV series) Series 1, Episode 10 Mr. Justice Raffles - Daniel Brigstock

Rachel and the Beelzebub Bombardiers (1977) – Captain Verney, MP

1990 (1977) – Dan Mellor

The Professionals (1978) - Robert Plumb (Servant of Two Masters episode)

Blake's 7 (1979) – Samor

Yes Minister (1980)

Blake's 7 (1981) – Egrorian

Doctor Who: The Visitation (1982) – The Squire (1 episode)

Gandhi (1982) – Manager of the Mine

Blackadder (pilot) (1982) - King of England

Oliver Twist (1982, TV Movie) – Mr. Fang

The Wicked Lady (1983) – Squire Thornton

The Bill (1984, TV Series) – Video shop owner

Little Dorrit (1987) – Tite Barnacle

A Summer Story (1988) – A Banc Clerk

Camping (1990) – English camper

Mountains of the Moon (1990) – Lord Murchison8

Impromptu (1991) – Buloz

Hudson Hawk (1991) – Auctioneer

Mr. Bean Takes an Exam (1991) - examination invigilator

Jeeves and Wooster (1992) (TV Series) Series 3, Episode 2 Edgar Gascoyne Bickersteth, 8th Duke of Chiswick

Brain Donors (1992) – Edmund Lazlo

Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris (1992) - Mr Armont

The Remains of the Day (1993) – Doctor Meredith

Tom & Viv (1994) – Sir Frederick Lamb

Coronation Street (1994–2006) – Fred Elliott (1,063 episodes)

Middlemarch (1994) – Raffles

Othello (1995) – 2nd Senator

Loch Ness (1996) – Dr. Binns

Sharpe - Sharpe's Regiment (1996) - Maj. Gen. Sir Barstan Maxwell

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) – Monsieur Firmin

The Life and Times of Mim Stewart (2019) – Gary Brennan