Emmerdale star Dale Meeks dies aged 48 – as Ant and Dec lead tributes

Emmerdale actor Dale Meeks has died aged 48, his household has confirmed.

The Geordie actor, who performed Simon Meredith on ITV cleaning soap Emmerdale between 2003 and 2006, died from “heart failure” on Saturday night, his brother Philip Meeks stated.

Meeks was resulting from flip 49 on the day of the King’s coronation and died at South Tyneside hospital in Newcastle, his brother added.

Philip stated “my heart is broken” as tributes poured in on social media for the actor who has been described as “the loveliest of guys”.

Meeks established his profession within the teenage BBC drama Byker Grove, alongside Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin within the ’90s.

He was a pacesetter of Denton Burn, the rival youth group to the Byker Grove youth membership.

The presenting duo, who performed PJ and Duncan in Byker Grove, tweeted: “We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale’s passing.

“He was the loveliest of men, though he was a Denton ‘Burner’, the arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’!

“A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad.”

Responding to the tweet, Philip informed PA: “That’s absolutely lovely.

“I form of keep in mind assembly them as youngsters myself. He (Dale) was in Byker Grove, he made certainly one of them blind, not in actual life.”

More not too long ago, Meeks starred in ITV true crime drama The Hunt For Raoul Moat, as Moat’s pal Rory Sutcliffe.

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He tweeted about his position within the sequence and stated final Monday: “Sadly watching tonight’s episode from this equally mysterious and sinister location. It’s fantastic to feel the love. Thanks gang. Keep it coming xxx.”