Coronation Street icon John Savident health battles – life-saving heart surgery to surviving stabbing

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John Savident, a Coronation Street icon best remembered for portraying butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap opera, passed away at the age of 86, according to his representatives.

The Coronation Street character John Savident, who played Fred Elliott, has away at the age of 86.

Savident’s powerful voice helped him become a fan favorite during his portrayal as butcher Fred on the ITV soap opera, but off screen, he publicly discussed his struggles with cardiac problems.

The actor John Savident passed away on Wednesday, February 21, and his death was officially announced by his agency on Thursday. “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” the statement said.

Savident debuted on the cobbles in 1994 and gained popularity among fans very fast. His tragic love life, which included three marriages and several abortive proposals, was the subject of his tales.

While playing butcher Fred on the ITV soap, Savident became a fan favourite thanks to his booming voice ( Image: Unknown)

2006 saw the demise of Savident’s character due to a stroke that occurred the day before he was set to wed Susie Blake’s character, Bev Unwin. The actor said at the time, “Next year I am having a heart operation,” confirming he was awaiting heart surgery in the same year. I’m getting a new valve inserted. I’m tired of my current partner.” Later in life, Savident had a hip surgery and received a diabetes diagnosis.

Speaking only three months after having heart surgery in 2007, the celebrity acknowledged that he had been diagnosed with diabetes and that his three-month recuperation time had been rigorous.

2006 saw the demise of Savident’s character due to a stroke that occurred the day before he was set to wed Susie Blake’s character, Bev Unwin. The actor said at the time, “Next year I am having a heart operation,” confirming he was awaiting heart surgery in the same year. I’m getting a new valve inserted. I’m tired of my current partner.” Later in life, Savident had a hip surgery and received a diabetes diagnosis.

Speaking only three months after having heart surgery in 2007, the celebrity acknowledged that he had been diagnosed with diabetes and that his three-month recuperation time had been rigorous.

As Savident clarified to The Herald, three months of recuperation is more than plenty. I’ve been off stage for so long that it’s easy to forget the dynamism, passion, and energy needed to keep things going. I thus noticed that I was becoming weary very rapidly and that there was one particularly awful performance, which I thought was very terrifying. Although I’m managing it today, I was just diagnosed with diabetes.”

2011 was Savident’s confirmation of having a replacement hip fitted, four years later. The seasoned actor acknowledged that his several surgeries had slowed him down in an interview with Manchester Evening News, but he expressed enthusiasm about a Shakespeare part he had been offered. “I’ve turned down a lot of work because I had a heart operation and a new hip because I’m in what I call the tea-time of my career,” Savident said. However, writing this screenplay for The Dream by William Shakespeare has been a complete joy. It will be enjoyable since I will be using the text wherever I can, set to Mendelsshon’s music, which mostly consists of fairy scenarios.

Soon after Savident’s death became public, fans and celebrities from the entertainment world began to pay their respects. Daran Little, a screenwriter, exclaimed, “John Savident, my lovely. I will always cherish so many wonderful memories. “My friend Big D xx, rest in peace,” the user wrote with a photo of the two.

One admirer wrote: “Gawd bless you John Savident, I SAY God bless you on X, previously known as Twitter. A fantastic performer and one of Corrie’s best, really memorable iconic characters.” Someone else wrote: “Oh my! The Coronation Street character John Savident, who played Fred Elliott, has away at the age of 86. What a myth! “I say, I say!”

“Absolutely heartbroken, thank you for the legendary Fred Elliott he will always be the best Coronation Street character of all time,” a third person commented. Another person wrote, “Fred Elliott of Coronation Street passes away at the age of 86.” I remark that this makes me very, very sad.” “Saddened to hear of the passing of John Savident, who played #Corrie’s eccentric butcher, Fred Elliott,” said a fan page for Coronation Street. Fred was the perfect example of a #ClassicCorrie character, and he will be missed for a very long time. John, RIP.”

After quitting the serial opera, John kept a low profile, but he kept working and turned up as the henchman in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where he costarred with Suranne Jones from Corrie and other actors including Justin Moorhouse and Warwick Davis. However, he played Gary Brennan in the 2019 staging of The Life and Times of Mim Stewart, which was his last credit. He performed as Monsieur Firmin in The Phantom of the Opera at The Royal Albert Hall eight years earlier.

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