Blackpool born soap actress Joan Savage has died aged 89.
The star was appeared as a dancer (Celeste Pickersgill) during her short stint Coronation Street. Her character was partnered by Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) in a competition at the Tower Ballroom.
However, she was best known for her roles in The Arthur Haynes Show between 1956 to 1962 and appeared in an episode of the British sitcom Dad’s Army.
Savage worked within the TV and stage industry for 60 years. She died earlier this month, no cause of death has been revealed.
Her versatile performances (including riding elephants, rollerskating, and performing song and dance numbers) led to her appearing on the iconic Mr Ronnie Taylor’s Variety Fanfare on BBC Radio and touring as the leading lady in a George and Alfred Black revue called Music and Madness.
During the tour, she met performer Ken Morris – who she later married in Blackpool in 1955 – and they teamed up as a double act.
The late star continued to pursue her solo career with her own brand of comedy and impressions as well as recording covers of popular love songs.
In March 1960, their daughter Kelly Reynolds was born. Savage’s husband Ken was diagnosed with a brain tumour and after a relatively short period of illness, died on July 3 1968.
Savage remarried husband Bryan in November 1972 and appeared in several radio broadcasts, and was aregular soloist on Friday Night is Music Night and had her own show series The Pleasure of Your Company and Joan Savage Sings.
Her daughter, Kelly said: ‘Mum always used to say “I’d like to go with my tap shoes on” so the last few years have been extremely difficult for her and us as a family. I hope she’s reunited with her show biz contemporaries and putting on a show up there!”
Joan passed away peacefully at Brinsworth House, Twickenham and leaves behind her husband Bryan, daughter Kelly and grandsons Mark and Simon.
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James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
