Les Dennis was thrown a surprise party after he was killed off in ‘Coronation Street’.
The 63-year-old actor bowed out of the long-running soap as Michael Rodwell – a role he’s portrayed for two years – in last Friday’s (18.11.16) show from a heart attack and his co-stars were determined to make sure he went out with a bang.
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’ on Monday (21.11.16), he said of his joint bash: "Sue Cleaver and my wife Claire hashed a surprise party, and it was good because all my friends were there so it was fantastic, Bruno (Langley) made a lovely birthday cake for me."
Les left the show before the scenes, which were shot months in advance, actually aired on screen and he has admitted he accidentally stumbled on set with his wife a few days later while the cast were shooting his alter-ego’s "bizarre" funeral.
He explained: "Claire and I went in to the canteen a few days after and everyone was dressed up so I said: ‘Why is everyone dressed up in black?’ And then I was like: ‘Oh it’s Michael’s funeral’ then Claire and I went on to the street and there was Michael’s hearse. It was the most bizarre experience, it was really weird to look and think that’s possibly… well it’s my character in that coffin."
Viewers were reduced to tears in last week’s episode after they watched Michael – who suffers with cardiomyopathy – plead with his arch-enemy Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) to help him and Les was determined to do the storyline justice as his father and former comedy partner Dustin Gee passed away from the same thing in 1986.
He said: "He (Dustin) had the same condition as Michael – cardiomyopathy – so there was kind of a real pressure to get it right, because a lot of people who have this condition have followed me on social media so hopefully I got it right."
Les Dennis’ Coronation Street exit party
