Actor Timothy West will make a posthumous appearance in Doctors this afternoon, just hours after his death was announced.
The former EastEnders star died in his sleep yesterday, aged 90, his family have announced.
A statement released by his family read: ‘After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old. Tim was with friends and family at the end.’
‘He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.
‘We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days. Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West.’
Timothy will play Artie Simkins – the neighbour of a patient who takes a fall in their garden and is forced to call 999.
The instalment of the BBC soap is the penultimate episode of the daytime medical drama, ahead of the last ever episode tomorrow.
Production wrapped in March after almost 25 years, following the broadcaster’s decision to axe it.
On social media, the Doctors team wrote: ‘The Doctors family are deeply saddened to hear of Timothy West’s passing.’
‘His final on-screen appearance in today’s Doctors episode is a moving reminder of his incredible talent, and it was an honour to have him join us.
‘We send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.’
Throughout Timothy’s illustrious career he appeared in a number of soap roles, including seven episodes of Coronation Street as Eric Babbage, the love interest of Gloria Price (Sue Johnson).
At the time he said: ‘Well I thought “if Ian McKellen can do it then it’s good enough for me!”‘
He later played the regular role of Stan Carter in EastEnders for one year from 2014, the father of established characters Shirley (Linda Henry) and Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White).
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Grandson Mick (Danny Dyer) had visited him in desperate need of cash, and he later moved into The Queen Vic pub with his family.
The character was entwined in a love triangle with estranged wife Sylvie (Linda Marlowe) and Walford local Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell).
Stan was killed off the BBC soap in April 2015 after a battle with terminal prostate cancer.
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Timothy’s final TV appearance airs on BBC One this afternoon at 2pm.
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