Heartbreak for Coronation Street star Carol Royle as her ‘wonderful’ husband dies in freak swimming pool accident

A CORONATION Street star has lost her "wonderful" husband of 47 years in a freak swimming pool accident.

Actress Carol Royle, 70, who also appeared in ITV soap Crossroads, recently joined the cobbles as a new character.

But she announced the sad news about Julian Spear on social media saying he suffered a "sudden massive brain haemorrhage".

Writing on Instagram, Carol said: "I am desperately sorry to post that we lost my wonderful husband, Julian Spear, today, 9th December.

"Perfectly fit man but jumped into a freezing outdoor pool which he assumed was heated as per usual yesterday, and he developed a sudden massive brain haemorrhage – our hearts are aching."

She added: "Married 47 years – known each other 56. Forgive me if I am not on Facebook very much for a while."

The soap legend joined Corrie as Anthea Deering - Joel Deering's (Calum Lil) disapproving mother - in the summer.

Anthea arrived in Weatherfield to meet her son's girlfriend, DeeDee (Channique Sterling-Brown) at the bistro.

Unfortunately, the pair's meeting didn't end well as their conversation led to an angry DeeDee running out after sharp-tongued Anthea commented on her family.

Carol's other television work includes appearances in multiple episodes of Casualty, Doctors and The Bill, playing different characters in various episodes of all three shows.

She also portrayed Lady Patricia Brewster in four episodes of Heartbeat.

Carol rose to fame as Jenny Russell in the BBC Sitcom Life Without George which ran from 1987 to 1989.

She also became vegetarian in 1973 and campaigns against factory farming and the fur trade.

Her husband Julian was a musician and the son of actor Bernard, who appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.