07 September 2023 , 13:30
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Coronation Street stars are paying tribute to a soap 'legend' after their tragic death aged 86. Iconic writer John Stevenson was responsible for dozens of memorial soap scenes over more than 400 episodes across 40 years in TV.
Stevenson worked on 447 episodes in total, with his final airing in 2006. He famously worked on the two-hander episode featuring Raquel (Sarah Lancashire) and Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy). John also wrote Mike Baldwin's heartbreaking dementia battle.
Show fan-favourite Sean Wilson, who played Martin Platt, confirmed the tragic news in a tribute shared on social media. He called John a "craftsman of TV humour" and praised the "kind words" from the "talismanic writer of many an episode".
Stevenson worked on 447 episodes of Coronation Street (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)He penned: "Oh it is with great regret that I hear of the passing of John Stevenson- the talismanic writer of many an episode of the halcyon years of Coronation Street. John headed up a writing team who steered the series into many 20 million viewer storylines and always, but always had one eye in the comedic charms of Northern life.
"From a little knowing wink to a rip roaring belly laugh, John was a craftsman of tv humour. I swear you could walk down any street in the UK at 7.30 and hear the whole country laughing at John’s special humour.
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"His like will never be seen again in TV it seems. He always had kind words for me throughout my tenure there and wrote some of my favourite episodes ever. Rest well John with a wry smile of contentment."
Former Corrie star Sherrie Hewson, who played Maureen Holdsworth, was amongst those commenting, writing: "So very sad xxx." One follower replied: "What lovely words Sean. He was indeed a wonderful writer, his scripts were always a joy to read."
Sean replied: "The words just flow Janet..they were happy times for all." Another viewer responded: "As an avid Corry watcher, it’s a shame the current writers don’t live up to his storylines."
It was in 2005 that John was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. Throughout his glistening career, he also worked on The Grimleys, Heartbeat and The Brothers McGregor, from which two characters joined Corrie in 1982.