Coronation Street legend passes away aged 78

He was in the soap until 2011

Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 5th Dec 2018
Last updated 5th Dec 2018

Coronation Street star Peter Armitage, who played the role of Bill Webster until 2011, has sadly passed away at the age of 78. The sad news was announced by his friend Charlie Lawson, who played the role of Jim McDonald alongside the the late actor.

Revealing the sad news on Twitter Charlie tweeted, '@itvcorrie @simongregson123 It’s with great sadness, that I’ve to tell you my great old friend Pete Armitage has died. RIP mate.' His tweet was greeted by a number of fans who tweeted their sympathies saying, 'I loved Pete what a lovely man very sad RIP lovely man' and 'So sorry to hear this Charlie. Pete was such a lovely man.. he’ll be sadly missed 🙏❤️'.

Messages of condolence have also been coming in from many of Peter's former Coronation Street co-stars including Jane Danson, who tweeted, 'So sorry to hear this , lovely man . Thoughts to family and friends x' sic and Simon Gregson who replied to Charlie's tweet saying, 'I loved Pete what a lovely man very sad RIP lovely man'.

Peter Armitage and Michael Le Vell

Samia Longchambon who plays the role of Maria Connor, also replied to the tweet saying, 'So sorry to hear this Charlie. Pete was such a lovely man.. he’ll be sadly missed 🙏❤️'. sic

Peter played the role of Bill in Coronation Street on and off for many years, the first time was back in 1984 for six months, before returning for two years between 1995 and 1997.

His most recent stint in the show was from 2006 to 2011, however, four years ago, Peter revealed that he had beaten bowel cancer and was hoping to return to the cobbles telling The Mirror, 'It's 30 years since I first started on the cobbles and I've always come in and out. I'd like to go back again, too, if there's a storyline for me.'

At present the reason for Peter's death has not been revealed.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family.