Tony Peers dead: Emmerdale and Coronation Street star dies as tributes flood in

Coronation Street and Emmerdale actor Tony Peers has died aged 78 "surrounded by family", his company has confirmed. The team at Tony Peers Ltd issued a statement to announce the news, penning: "It is with great sadness that we announce that Scarborough showbiz legend Tony Peers has taken his final bow. Our wonderful producer, manager and friend sadly fell asleep for the last time in the early hours of this morning.

"All at Tony Peers Limited are devastated by this news and in Tony's words "the show must go on." We will be continuing to lead all future productions and keeping Tony's pantomime legacy alive across the country for years to come."

Tony began his career in showbiz in the 1960s, and appeared in a number of TV shows in small roles, including Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Last of the Summer Wine, LA Without A Map. He had four small roles on Emmerdale, playing a construction worker in May 1987, a dance hall MC in February 1996, Mr Roche in August 1998, and Bryan Dodds between April and October 2003.

He also played a journalist in the film Funny Bones which starred Lee Evans, Oliver Reed and Jerry Lewis

In a previous interview with the Scarborough News, he revealed his mum was so proud that he landed a role in Coronation Street that she took the TV Times round to the neighbours to point out his name printed in the credits.

He also had a career as a stand-up comedian, performing at venues all over the country before moving to Scarborough in the 1980s to run the entertainment at the Butlins Grand Hotel, and in 2010, even welcomed Her Majesty The Queen to Scarborough to reopen the Open Air Theatre.

Peers became a local celebrity in the area after launching Tony Peers Productions, creating summer shows and pantos which are still running to this day.

Colleagues at Scarborough Spa, where Tony worked in his later years, paid tribute, saying: ""Everyone at the Scarborough Spa is saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Peers.

"Tony, who was involved in over 2,500 shows at the Spa as a performer, director, and latterly as producer of the famous Spa summer shows and Christmas pantomimes, passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by family and friends."