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Emmerdale and The Archers star Eric Allan has died at the age of 85.
The actor has passed away after a 48-year career in television and radio where he played blacksmith Frank Blakey in the early days of the soap in 1972 when it was still called Emmerdale Farm.
One of his most notable storylines was when he married Janie Harker in the show’s first ever wedding. He then left the series in January 1974.
He also played farmer Bert Fry on BBC Radio 4’s The Archers for 25 years.
Eric is survived by his wife Susan who he married in 1963 as well as their son and daughter.
The actor – who grew up in Yorkshire – was also known for starring in Bleak Moments and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Emmerdale and The Archers star Eric Allan has died at the age of 85
The actor passed away after a 48-year career in television and radio where he played blacksmith Frank Blakey in the early days of the soap in 1972
After growing up in the north his family then moved to Canada before he returned to the UK at the age of 18 to study at RADA.
He then acted in Leicester and Nottingham theatres in his early career, before spending several years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
There he worked with director Mike Leigh when he was cast in his first feature film Bleak Moments.
After Emmerdale, Eric joined The Archers in May 1997 where he took over the role of farmer Bert Fry from Roger Hume who had died the previous year.