BREAKING: Emmerdale and Byker Grove star passes away suddenly aged 47

Dale Meeks, known for his acting roles in Emmerdale and Byker Grove passed away unexpectedly at the age of 47.

Dale Meeks, the Geordie television and theatre acting star best known for his role of Simon Meredith in Emmerdale, as well as Byker Grove, passed away unexpectedly this Sunday, April 23, at the age of 47.

A poignant post on Facebook from Dale’s brother-in-law Nick Boaden read: “So unbelievably sad. Brother in Law, mucca, sidekick and just the BEST friend a lad could have wished for. RIP Dale Meeks. So much less to laugh about now you’re not there to share it with”.

“Thanks everyone for all the beautiful messages and memories you have been sharing. The support of Dale’s friends has been so incredibly strong over these chaotic, heartbreaking final hours, I can only stand in awe”, it continued.

His acting career began with a role in Byker Grove. Only last week, Dale appeared on television as Rory Sutcliffe in ‘The Hunt for Raoul Moat’, a three-part series. Dale toured the UK with the theatre production of Chicago and also appeared in the West End production of Love Never Dies.

Fellow Geordie stars Ant and Dec tweeted: “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”.

The Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire wrote: “A Shields lad, I remember Dale Meeks from Byker Gove and he’s in the Raoul Moat TV crime drama. Gone far too soon. RIP”.