Bill Tarmey: 'I forget I quit Coronation Street'

Published Apr 28 2012, 10:58 BST  |  By Colin Daniels

Former Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey still has not got used to life after the soap.

The 71-year-old actor, who played Jack Duckworth in the ITV1 show for 31 years, left in 2010 to spend more time with his family after son Carl was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

"I miss Jack of course. I used to always wake up at 5.30am and read my script and I'm still waking up at the same time but panicking because I can't find the script," Tarmey told MSN.

"Then I realise I'm retired. I don't regret my decision to quit - it's just probably going to take me another 30 years to get used to the fact that I'm not on the Street!

"I always thought they'd have to drag me kicking and screaming off the Street because I loved it so much, but [Carl's] diagnosis was such a shock.

"Even though I carried on working, I'd break down in tears sometimes on set. As a professional I felt that wasn't fair on my colleagues and I knew it was finally time to go.

"I had the most amazing 31 years playing Jack. Because of him I've made fantastic friends and travelled all over the world. I was persuaded to stay for the 50th anniversary and said goodbye after that as I needed to be with my family and Carl."