Brookside actor Dean Sullivan pulled out of pantomime show due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ days before his death

BROOKSIDE legend Dean Sullivan pulled out of a panto show due to “unforeseen circumstances” just a few days before his death.

Sullivan, 68, found fame portraying Jimmy Corkhill in the long-running Channel 4 soap.

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The Atkinson Theatre, Southport, where he was expected to tread the boards for a three week run, confirmed his departure in a tweet shortly after his withdrawal.

They wrote: “There has been a change to the line-up for this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime.

“Dean Sullivan will no longer be performing in the role of Fleshcreep, as previously advertised and the role will now be played by Mark Paterson.”

He had been due to begin the run on December 7 but he pulled out on November 17.

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Sullivan was the longest-serving cast member on Brookside - but originally he was only supposed to be in six episodes as recurring character Corkhill.

The actor's agent said in a statement this morning: "To millions he was and very much still is remembered as 'Jimmy', to family and friends he was 'Dino'.

"Dean's family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.

"We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief."

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Sullivan revealed in 2019 he had battled prostate cancer but was later given the all-clear.

He told The Mirror at the time: "I remember being a bit shell shocked really, because even though we know these days that one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer of some sort, you never think it will be you."

Sullivan's cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

In February 2023, Sullivan told Metro he wasn't ruling out a revival of Brookside, saying: "I think it could work even more so these days because one of the big initial storylines, the Grants were a true working-class family.

"I think there would be a massive appetite for it."

Sullivan was a two-time British Soap Awards winner and had roles in other TV dramas, including BBC's Doctors and ITV's The Royal.

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