‘The Bill’ and ‘Flash Gordon’ star Tony Scannell dies aged 74
Actor Tony Scannell, who is best known for his role on the British drama The Bill, has passed away at the age of 74.
The Irish star was tragically confirmed dead this week in a post of social media. However, the cause of his death is yet to be revealed. Scannell has been described as a “dynamic character” by fans and fellow actors who had the pleasure of working with him throughout his career.
“Damn, damn, damn! I’ve just learned from Mark Wingett of the passing of a wonderful actor and dear colleague of his,” a Facebook post read. “Tony Scannell played a DS Ted Roach on The Bill for nine years from 1984 to 1993. Any episode that had him in it would have me fixated on the TV… I had a very bad case of a young girl crush on Ted/Tony. He was a bit of alright in my books (despite the fact he was literally three months younger than my dad!).”
The post continued: “When Tony retired Ted in 1993 I was gutted! I developed a unreasoning dislike of the new DS John Bolton (Russell Boulter) and ground my teeth every time the ‘holier than thou’ Inspector Andrew Monroe (Colin Tarrant) who caused Ted to quit, came on the screen. It took me more years than I care to admit (and meeting Russell, Mark and Hew Higginson) to rid myself of those daft feelings.
“Ted was such a dynamic character and although I never did get to meet him, I’m sure Tony was just as amazing … and his memory will be cherished by his loved ones and friends all.”
Meanwhile, actress Kate Manning was one of the first to share her heartbreak over the loss in a post on Twitter. The actress described her friend as a “wonderful actor” and “gentle soul”.
“Another wonderful actor #TonyScannell best known for his superb portrayal of Ted Roach in #TheBill has gone on his awfully big adventure,” she wrote. “He was a gentle soul who I was lucky to work with on a film a few years ago.”
Her post was followed by an influx of tributes from fans who had watched Scannell for years on The Bill, in which he played DS Ted Roach.
“Gutted. Like most I only knew him as Ted Roach in The Bill,” @JasonKingHQ wrote on Twitter. “He was a naughty, charismatic, handsome bastard – the essential ingredients for being a proper TV legend. R.I.P. Tony Scannell.”
“R.I.P. Tony Scannell. One of my first heroes growing up watching The Bill with my dad. Ted Roach was an absolute legend,” @eljgles2 wrote. While @thebillfans added: “R.I.P. Tony Scannell. You were fantastic as Ted Roach. Very sad news.”
Scannell was only meant to appear on The Bill for two episodes but soon became a fan favourite and went on to play the role of Ted Roach for nine years throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Throughout his acting career, he also featured in Flash Gordon, Evil Never Dies and Waking the Dead. He is survived by his partner Agnes Lillis and three adult children.
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