Heartbeat actor Bill Maynard dies aged 89

Heartbeat actor Bill Maynard has died at the age of 89, his family has confirmed.The actor played lovable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass on the popular show between 1992 and 2000.According to the BBC, Maynard, who appeared in 155 episodes of Heartbeat, actually shared many characteristics with Greengrass, including a fondness for horse and greyhound racing and the occasional drink.He previously starred in the Carry On film franchise as well as having roles in notable British shows including The Sweeney and Worzel Gummidge.The actor had suffered with health problems in recent years and was using a wheelchair after having several strokes.Last year he made a cameo in BBC series The Moorside on a scooter to prove he was ‘still alive’ after a radio station mistakenly announced his death four years ago.Maynard, whose real name was Walter Williams, chose his stage name as a reference to the sweet company, according to daughter-in-law Jacqueline Reddin.The star died in hospital in Leicestershire shortly after breaking his hip in a fall off his mobility scooter, his daughter-in-law said.Ms Reddin, who is also an actress, said: 'He was larger than life and he just loved showbiz.'He was so proud of the fact that he had been working for 81 years.'He leaves a son and daughter, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.' He was also once the best paid television comedian in Britain during Heartbeat's peak in 1997, earning around £600,000 per year.That same year he suffered his first stroke which caused scripts to be rewritten to accommodate his health problems.His ailing health forced his character to be written out in 2000, but he came back for spin-off The Royal in 2003.At its peak Heartbeat was watched by up to 18 million and the comedy actor was loved for his scams in the heartwarming series set on the North Yorkshire moors in the 1960s.In the late 1950s Maynard’s career really took off after he forged a partnership with fellow future Carry On star Terry Scott.They co-starred in hit show Great Scott, It’s Maynard, before the future Heartbeat actor decided to pursue more serious roles and broke the team up.But soon Maynard found himself in trouble with the Inland Revenue for unpaid taxes and was ordered to hand over a fortune in cash, property and cars to settle his debts.Years in the acting wilderness followed until he resumed his comedy work in the 1970s with sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt.Before embarking on a career as an actor, Maynard had hoped to become a professional footballer, having been a youth player at Leicester City and Notts County, only for a knee injury to curtail his dreams.He then embraced comedy, having been entertaining audiences since the age of eight with impressions.In 2013 he told the Leicester Mercury he led a ‘grand life’ and even joked about being miffed he ‘never got a peerage’.The star said he had ‘no regrets’ and had spent his later years playing poker around the country, enjoying the social side as much as the f

[@adminsroserobertson]

you may be gone but never forgotten RIP Bill 🙏🙏

[@MaxandKalisAdventures]

Meet him at a Auction then after in a Cafe .He had us in giggles .RIP Bill

[@traceyhoult1238]

Bill lived in my village in the 2004’S. He was a sweetie ♥️

[@richtensail]

farewell mr greengrass, hpe alfred is by ur side

[@Mike-mx5ic]

RIP.

[@JeanWareing]

Brilliant

[@christopherdale5243]

Greengrass!!!😂😂😂

[@odettewiddicombe4583]

Rip Mr

[@telemachus53]

I don't need an awful robot voice to remind of wonderful Bill Maynard. Get a proper narrator.