Emmerdale actor Dale Meeks has died aged 48, his family has confirmed.
The Geordie actor, who played Simon Meredith on ITV soap Emmerdale between 2003 and 2006, died from “heart failure” on Saturday evening, his brother Philip Meeks said.
Meeks was due to turn 49 on the day of the King’s coronation and died at South Tyneside hospital in Newcastle, his brother added.
Philip said “my heart is broken” as tributes poured in on social media for the actor who has been described as “the loveliest of guys”.
Meeks established his career in the teenage BBC drama Byker Grove, alongside Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin in the ’90s.
Meeks as Simon Meredith in Emmerdale (centre) with co-stars Daniel Brocklebank (left) and Nicola Wheeler (right)
He was a leader of Denton Burn, the rival youth group to the Byker Grove youth club.
The presenting duo, who played PJ and Duncan in Byker Grove, tweeted: “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 arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’!
“A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad.”
Responding to the tweet, Philip told PA: “That’s absolutely lovely.
“I sort of remember meeting them as kids myself. He (Dale) was in Byker Grove, he made one of them blind, not in real life.”
More recently, Meeks starred in ITV true crime drama The Hunt For Raoul Moat, as Moat’s friend Rory Sutcliffe.
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He tweeted about his role in the series and said last Monday: “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.”