Brookside legend Dean Sullivan dies aged 68

Dean Sullivan has died aged 68.

The 'Brookside' legend - who played Jimmy Corkhill on the Channel 4 soap from 1986 to 2003, becoming the show's longest serving cast member - passed away peacefully on Wednesday (29.11.23) after a short illness.

A statement from Hamilton Management and his family said: "To millions he was and very much still is remembered as 'Jimmy', to family and friends he was 'Dino'.

"Dean's family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.

"We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief."

His cause of death has not been confirmed.

Sullivan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, and last year he was discharged by his doctor after radiotherapy.

He urged people to "listen to their bodies" while sharing his own early symptoms.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "The strength of my flow when I used to go to the loo to have a pee was reduced.

"The first time I went to the doctor's surgery he said, 'we'll just keep an eye on it and see how you go on'. It was a few weeks later, I just knew that wasn't right."

He went back to see a doctor who "specialised in prostate treatment", and he was set up with a consultant "within tow weeks".

He added: "If I'd have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut. 11 times out of 10, you're right. We've still got that fight or flight instinct."

Sullivan joined the 'Brookside' cast in 1986, four years into its run, and went onto become one of its most memorable characters until it was cancelled in 2003.

During his stint on the show, the Liverpool-born star won two British Soap Awards, including a special recognition prize.

Other credits included the likes of 'Doctors', 'The Royal' and 'Crime Stories', while last year he appeared in Netflix short film 'Wings'.