Fred Elliott
Encyclopedia
Frederick Handel "Fred" Elliott is a fictional character
from the British soap opera Coronation Street
, played by John Savident
from 1994 until 2006.
character Foghorn Leghorn speaks.
Actor John Savident
has revealed that, when filming scenes as Fred, he "was inspired by quirks of real-life people." He explained in an interview with Digital Spy
that "a neighbour from his childhood was among the people who influenced his performances." He also claimed that he based Fred's mannerisms "on people I knew."
In the months leading up his exit from the soap John Savident revealed that he "didn't want there to be a fuss about Fred's death, no big dramatic storyline." He continued saying that he just wanted Ashley "to go up to Fred's bedroom and find his father pegged out."
), a young worker in the Elliotts' old shop. Kathleen became pregnant, but rejected Fred's proposal of marriage, feeling too young to be tied down. Kathleen agreed to give her newborn son to Fred's childless sister, Beryl Peacock (Anny Tobin) and her husband Sam. They brought up Ashley as their own son, never telling him of his true parentage. In 1999, Fred let slip to Audrey Roberts
(Sue Nicholls
) that Ashley is actually his son, and this led to Beryl admitting the truth to Ashley.
In 1997, Fred married Maureen Holdsworth (Sherrie Hewson
). Maureen quickly realised it was a mistake. They subsequently separated and later divorced. Fred then fell in love and married barmaid Eve Sykes (Melanie Kilburn
). He also bought the Rovers Return pub for her to work in. However, it transpired that Eve had never divorced her previous husband Ray, causing Fred to separate and divorce once again.
In 2006, after a brief courtship, Bev Unwin (Susie Blake
) accepted a proposal from Fred. The couple were to marry in October 2006. Intending to retire to the country, Fred sold the Rovers to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
). While waiting to marry Bev on his wedding day, Fred left the church to talk to Audrey, since she had recently admitted her feeling for him, despite declining his proposal. After a discussion in which he asserted his love and commitment to marrying Bev, he set out to return to the church but collapsed, dying instantly of a heart attack in the hallway of Audrey's house.
, and has been described by them as "the big, bald butcher who said everything twice, and boomingly, started out as a comic gargoyle and became ever sweeter: I said, became ever sweeter...John Savident's performance made his failed love affairs moving and his death on his wedding day a calamity." He has also been described as "a colourful character of the type that used to abound Coronation Street but is now becoming scarce."
Based on the characters amount of declined proposals, Fred has been described as someone "who's heard the word 'No!' more times than the celebrity booker on Patrick Kielty Live."
Grace Dent of The Guardian
claimed, upon the characters exit from the soap, that she would "miss Fred Elliott a lot", and that she'd "miss his blunt common sense, forever flawed by his quirk of proposing to every woman he set eyes on...his rants about the life-enhancing properties of steak and kidney pudding...his barely concealed enjoyment of a good gossip with Shelley, Betty, and Violet in the Rovers backroom...how sometimes Fred would be propping up the bar, saying an unremarkable line in a throwaway scene, but add a wobble of the head or a camp tap of the fag that somehow made it profound."
The characters final episode which aired on October 9, 2006, was viewed by 11 million, which exceeded EastEnders
' 9 million that evening.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, played by John Savident
John Savident
John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner....
from 1994 until 2006.
Development
Fred's character was developed to loudly repeat everything he said, similar to the way Looney TunesLooney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
character Foghorn Leghorn speaks.
Actor John Savident
John Savident
John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner....
has revealed that, when filming scenes as Fred, he "was inspired by quirks of real-life people." He explained in an interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
that "a neighbour from his childhood was among the people who influenced his performances." He also claimed that he based Fred's mannerisms "on people I knew."
Departure
John Savident has claimed that he left the soap because he was "simply tired of the five episodes per week grind; probably made worse by the fact that as a Corrie linchpin he was in virtually every episode, with the double toil of repeating all his lines twice."In the months leading up his exit from the soap John Savident revealed that he "didn't want there to be a fuss about Fred's death, no big dramatic storyline." He continued saying that he just wanted Ashley "to go up to Fred's bedroom and find his father pegged out."
Storylines
The year after Fred's first wife Sybil died, Fred became romantically involved with Kathleen Gutteridge (Elizabeth RiderElizabeth Rider
Elizabeth Rider is an English actress best known for her recurring role as DI Lynette Driver in the BBC soap opera, Doctors, which she has appeared in 2009 and often from 2010.-Career:...
), a young worker in the Elliotts' old shop. Kathleen became pregnant, but rejected Fred's proposal of marriage, feeling too young to be tied down. Kathleen agreed to give her newborn son to Fred's childless sister, Beryl Peacock (Anny Tobin) and her husband Sam. They brought up Ashley as their own son, never telling him of his true parentage. In 1999, Fred let slip to Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sue Nicholls, the character first appeared during the episode aired on 16 April 1979....
(Sue Nicholls
Sue Nicholls
Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts in British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) that Ashley is actually his son, and this led to Beryl admitting the truth to Ashley.
In 1997, Fred married Maureen Holdsworth (Sherrie Hewson
Sherrie Hewson
Sherrie Lynn Hutchinson is an English actor, broadcaster and novelist.-Early life:Born in Nottinghamshire, Hewson was brought up in a showbusiness family; her father was a singer and her mother a model. She began performing at the age of six, touring the UK's theatres in revues with her own...
). Maureen quickly realised it was a mistake. They subsequently separated and later divorced. Fred then fell in love and married barmaid Eve Sykes (Melanie Kilburn
Melanie Kilburn
Melanie Kilburn is an English actress, well known for playing PC Laura Bryant in ITV's, The Bill....
). He also bought the Rovers Return pub for her to work in. However, it transpired that Eve had never divorced her previous husband Ray, causing Fred to separate and divorce once again.
In 2006, after a brief courtship, Bev Unwin (Susie Blake
Susie Blake
Susie Blake is a British actress.-Personal life:Blake trained at the Arts Educational School and LAMDA in London. She is the granddaughter of the actress Annette Mills and a great - niece of the actor Sir John Mills...
) accepted a proposal from Fred. The couple were to marry in October 2006. Intending to retire to the country, Fred sold the Rovers to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
). While waiting to marry Bev on his wedding day, Fred left the church to talk to Audrey, since she had recently admitted her feeling for him, despite declining his proposal. After a discussion in which he asserted his love and commitment to marrying Bev, he set out to return to the church but collapsed, dying instantly of a heart attack in the hallway of Audrey's house.
Reception
Fred has been opined as the second best Coronation Street character by The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, and has been described by them as "the big, bald butcher who said everything twice, and boomingly, started out as a comic gargoyle and became ever sweeter: I said, became ever sweeter...John Savident's performance made his failed love affairs moving and his death on his wedding day a calamity." He has also been described as "a colourful character of the type that used to abound Coronation Street but is now becoming scarce."
Based on the characters amount of declined proposals, Fred has been described as someone "who's heard the word 'No!' more times than the celebrity booker on Patrick Kielty Live."
Grace Dent of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
claimed, upon the characters exit from the soap, that she would "miss Fred Elliott a lot", and that she'd "miss his blunt common sense, forever flawed by his quirk of proposing to every woman he set eyes on...his rants about the life-enhancing properties of steak and kidney pudding...his barely concealed enjoyment of a good gossip with Shelley, Betty, and Violet in the Rovers backroom...how sometimes Fred would be propping up the bar, saying an unremarkable line in a throwaway scene, but add a wobble of the head or a camp tap of the fag that somehow made it profound."
The characters final episode which aired on October 9, 2006, was viewed by 11 million, which exceeded EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
' 9 million that evening.