SAD NEWS: Ant and Dec ‘devastated’ after Emmerdale star d!ed suddenly
Dale Meeks was a much-loved TV star who had appeared in some of the most popular programmes on the small screen, including Emmerdale and Byker Grove, before his tragic de@th at the age of just 48
Dale was a much-loved Emmerdale star(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He was a cherished television personality who had featured in some of the most beloved shows on our screens before his heartbreaking de@th aged just 48.
Hailing from South Shields, Dale Meeks launched his entertainment career with an appearance in the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove. He portrayed Greg, the head of the Denton Burn youth group, who served as direct adversaries to the characters in the much-loved Byker Grove.
He went on to enjoy a stellar career, making the leap from child performer to established adult actor and became most recognised for his portrayal of Simon Meredith in the ITV soap Emmerdale.
In the programme, Simon worked as a fishmonger and had a turbulent romance with Nicola Blackstock before their relationship crumbled and he departed for the tropical coastlines of Costa Rica alongside his closest mate in 2006.
Beyond his television work, Dale was also a skilled theatre performer, taking roles in The Producers, Chicago and A Christmas Carol, plus a West End staging of Love Never Dies.
Dale played Simon in Emmerdale(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He had considerable vocal talent too and, together with fellow Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock, claimed victory on ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes Celebrity Special performing as the Blues Brothers.
His additional credits included parts in Casualty, Inspector George Gently and the Tracey Beaker spin-off The Dumping Ground.
Dale’s last role came in The Hunt For Raoul Moat, an ITV drama chronicling the devastating real-life incidents. Sadly, in April 2023 Dale tragically d!ed from heart failure at South Tyneside Hospital.
Dale Meeks was just 48 when he d!ed(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He was only 48 and had been gearing up to celebrate his 49th birthday on the same day as King Charles’ Coronation.
In a poignant tribute, his brother, Philip, expressed: “My heart is broken.”
Dale’s former Byker Grove colleagues, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, were among the first celebrities to honour the actor. In a joint statement, they said: “We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale’s passing. He was the loveliest of guys, even 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.”
Dale Meeks starred in Byker Grove with Ant and Dec
Stars of Emmerdale also quickly paid their respects. Nick Miles, who portrays Jimmy King in Emmerdale, stated: “Such sad news. He was a lovely generous man. RIP.”
Charlie Hardwick, who played Val Pollard in Emmerdale while Dale was portraying Simon, said: “I’m very saddened by this dreadful news. I liked Dale so much and loved working with him. He was a funny, sweet, very talented gentle giant.”
Former Coronation Street actor and Family Fortunes host Les Dennis, who shared the stage with Meeks in a pantomime at the Sunderland Empire, added: “He was great company and so talented. Thoughts with his family and friends.”
Dale was also a talented singer(Image: ITV / HELEN TURTON)
Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton, who also performed alongside Dale in pantomime, said: “He made me and my then-husband Andy (Scott-Lee) feel so welcome and had been a regular at panto throughout many years and just made us feel really welcome and at ease. It’s a real shame that we’ve lost him.”
Beyond his stage and screen work, Dale also co-authored a theatrical piece about South Shields FC’s FA Vase triumph over Cleethorpes Town in 2017.
After his passing, the club posted on Twitter: “Everyone at SSFC was saddened to learn of the de@th of Dale Meeks. Dale co-wrote Everywhere We Go, the popular play based on our journey to FA Vase success in 2017. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.”
