Coronation Street and Carry On star Kenneth Cope dies aged 93

Cope starred in Coronation Street, appearing in the soap as Jed Stone in more than 100 episodes. Credit: PA

Carry On and Coronation Street star Kenneth Cope has died aged 93, his former agent said.

Cope made his name as ghost detective Marty Hopkirk in the ITV supernatural detective series, Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased).

It saw him solve crimes from beyond the grave while being visible only to his partner Jeff Randall, after being murdered during an investigation in the series’ first episode.

(left to right) Richard O'Callaghan, Jacki Piper, and Liverpool-born Kenneth Cope in 1971 who all star in "Carry On At Your Convenience". Credit: PA

Sandra Chalmers, of The Artists Partnership confirmed he died surrounded by his family on Wednesday.

She shared a statement from his family which read: “Ken passed away yesterday peacefully in his sleep with his wife and family by his side.”

They described him as “an incredible icon of British TV and film”, with a six-decade career that “contributed to some of the most iconic moments in British culture” as well as being “a natural comedy actor”.

The cult classic series Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) was known as My Partner The Ghost in the US. It was later remade with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer in 2000 and lasted for two series.

That Was The Week That cast, left to right, David Frost, Millicent martin, Irwin C Watson, Kenneth Cope. Credit: PA

Cope in 1994 said he had "happy times" making the programme.

“I used to think people liked it because they were happy times when we made it. The sun was always shining," he said.

“As a kid you wanted to be Superman, you wanted to be able to do things, to find the magic stone and rub it and a genie would appear.

“Randall and Hopkirk was quite escapist. There was a nice guy there who could do magical things.”

Born in Liverpool in 1931, he appeared in over 100 episodes of Coronation Street from 1961 to 63 as Jed Stone, before briefly returning in 2008 and 2009.

A Corrie spokesperson said: “Kenneth’s portrayal of Jed Stone, also known as Sonny Jim, on Coronation Street between 1961 and 1966 made him a firm favourite with the soap’s fans.

“He was a talented actor and writer and we were delighted when he agreed to reprise the role 42 years later in 2008.

“We are sorry to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Cope also starred in two Carry On films, Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) and Carry On Matron (1972), and in 1963’s Carry On Jack in an uncredited role.

The actor was in the 1963 Hammer horror film The Damned and made appearances in the TV comedy-drama Minder, an episode of the espionage series The Avengers, and the Warriors’ Gate episode of Doctor Who in 1981.

He married his Coronation Street co-star actress Renny Lister in 1961, the couple had two sons Nick and Mark, who together formed a rock band called The Candyskins.

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They also had a daughter, Martha, who is an actress best known for her roles in Doctors and EastEnders.

Cope spent his later years living in Southport, where he was a columnist for the Southport Visitor magazine.

The family statement also mentioned he was “a proud native Liverpudlian and a loyal supporter of Everton Football Club”, adding they are “deeply saddened by his passing and ask that his family are given privacy at this time”.

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