Jimmy McKenna who has played Jack Osborne in Hollyoaks since 1996, admitted his co-stars have stepped up to ensure he is not spending the festive season alone this year
A soap legend has revealed his wife has died as he opens up about his secret grief for the first time.
Jimmy McKenna who has played Jack Osborne in Hollyoaks since 1996, admitted his co-stars have stepped up to ensure he is not alone during the festive season following his tragic loss. While he did not divulge details of her cause of death but admitted the festive season “has been a wee bit melancholy”.
While speaking to Inside Soap Magazine about his plans for Christmas, the 72-year-old revealed his wife Bev, who he shares four children with, had passed away.
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His revealed co-star Nick Pickard, who plays Tony Hutchinson, has stepped up to ensure he won’t be alone at Christmas inviting Jimmy into his home along with members of Bev’s family. “I’ll be with Nick and his partner Sarah for Christmas Day. Nick’s mum, my mum-in-law and sister-in-law are coming. Nick’s daughter Ellie and her boyfriend will be there too, there’s nine of us in total,” he said.
He continued: “Since my wife Bev passed, Christmas has been a wee bit melancholy for me. So it’s good to just be surrounded by friends, having a laugh and a wee drink!”
Jimmy has been a familiar face on screens since the 1980s when he landed a small part in Coronation Street playing Jim Lomax in 1985. He returned to the cobbles just over a decade later in 1994 playing an Immigration Officer in two episodes.
For 14 years from 1996 he juggled his soap role with a role in the David Jason police procedurial A Touch Of Frost in which he played Sgt. Don Brady. He has also had roles in Taggart, Rumpole of the Bailey, Soldier Soldier and Heartbeat.
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays through to Wednesdays at 7am on Channel 4 before airing on E4 at 7pm.
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