Andrew Sachs passes away, aged 86

Andrew Sachs, best known for playing Spanish waiter Manuel in the 1970s show Fawlty Towers, has died aged 86.

He had reportedly been battling dementia for four years and died in a care home on November 23rd.

Andrew played Norris' brother Ramsey Clegg in Coronation Street and arrived on the cobbles in 2009.

From Corriepedia: In 2009, Ramsay discovered he had a brain tumour and not long to live, and decided to attempt to make up with Norris. Norris accused Ramsay of killing their mother, saying that he still "had blood on his hands". Later it transpired Ramsay was the older illegitimate brother of Norris, who was sent to Australia as a child.

Emily Bishop took a shine to Ramsay, and the pair grew closer. But Norris shamed Emily for her closeness to Ramsay. Not wanting to cause Emily any pain, a disappointed Ramsay decided to return to Australia.

He departed on 27th August, after sharing a tender moment with Emily. A cold Norris refused to forgive him and a disappointed Ramsay left in the back of a taxi. Norris and Emily were later shocked when they discovered that Ramsay had died on the flight to Australia, and even more when finding out about his brain tumour.

Soon after Ramsay's death, a trunk of his possessions arrived for Norris. Reluctantly, Norris looked through the trunk, finding, among other things, a boomerang Ramsay had intended to give to him as a child, and a large number of letters Ramsay had written to their mother, asking to see her. Finally Norris found a letter from their mother, asking Ramsay to leave her alone. Finally realising that Ramsay had never been the villain, Norris went to his grave, crying over the brother he had never let himself get to know.

Norris received a telescope from Ramsay in November 2014, although the package had been redirected several times and took a while to finally reach him. Norris deduced that his late half-brother must have liked astronomy. Emily also spoke of her closeness to Ramsay.
  
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Podcast: Andrew Sachs on his Corrie role

Andrew Sachs chats to DJ Simon Mayo on Radio 5 live about his role on Coronation Street as Norris' brother, Ramsay Clegg. The interview is now available as a podcast on the Radio 5 website. Andrew reveals how he copes without having any rehearsal at all as he joins the Corrie cast.

Listen to it here, it's rather good.

Andrew Sachs on Corrie - what do you think so far?

I've loved the trailers showing Andrew Sachs arriving on Coronation Street to the background music from a cowboy film and I've been looking forward to Norris Cole's brother being on screen for a while. And so far, so good.

Andrew Sachs as Ramsay Clegg is a solid, believable character who looks set to ruffle Norris' feathers, which is always a good thing, especially after he was so mean to Mary.

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Norris Cole's secret revealed

Andrew Sachs turns up as Norris Cole's half-brother Ramsay Clegg on Coronation Street next week and there'll be a few shocks revealed. Ramsay's visit will have a long-term effect on Norris, says Andrew Sachs.

"Ramsay's presence will change Norris. There are consquences to his arrival which will significantly affect people's understanding of Norris. I'm only going to be in Corrie for a fixed amount of time and Norris will be on a very different footing once it's over."

By 'eck, it sounds good. I wonder what secrets Norris is hiding... any ideas?

See pictures of Ramsay Clegg's arrival on Coronation Street at the official Corrie site.

Win a chance to meet Norris Cole's brother

Andrew Sachs is turning up soon on Coronation Street as Norris Cole's brother, Ramsay Clegg. Fans of Andrew Sachs might be pleased to hear that there's a competition on the UKTV website to win a chance to meet the cast members of Fawlty Towers. But if you want to win, you'll have to be quick, the deadline for entries is this week. Runner-up prizes included signed photos of the Fawlty Towers cast and a Fawlty Towers Series 1 & 2 DVD for the next ten runners-up.

With thanks to UKTV for letting the blog know about this one.

See also: Pictures of Andrew Sachs as Corrie's Ramsay Clegg

In pictures: Andrew Sachs as Corrie's Ramsey Clegg

Andrew Sachs has now started filming on Coronation Street as the half-brother of Norris Cole, says the MEN. Sachs plays Ramsay Clegg, the illegitimate son of Norris's mother, who gave birth to him as a teenager.

Andrew Sachs joins Corrie cast as Ramsay Clegg

The official Coronation Street website is reporting that Andrew Sachs has signed up to play Norris Cole's half-brother called Ramsay Clegg. Ramsay is the illegitimate son of Norris's mother, who gave birth to him when she was a teenager.

Ramsay Clegg, eh? What a fantastic name for a Corrie character.

Andrew Sachs confirms stint on Coronation Street

Note to news websites who've cut and pasted this post as their own - could you please do the decent thing and give this blog a link?

There are many reasons why I love the Christmas Radio Times - great telly schedules, a fab crossword and holiday adverts for summer next year. Little did I know I'd also get a Coronation Street exclusive out of it too.

In an interview with Andrew Sachs, who's been rumoured to turn up on the cobbles as Norris Cole's brother, the ex-Fawlty Towers star says this:

"They're asking me to do Coronation Street next year. I'm a little concerned because I'm a pensioner, as the newspapers keep telling me, and it takes me longer to learn the lines. I'm going to take up the challenge anyway."

Great news so far but even better is that Andrew admits he and his wife are huge Corrie fans too. He said: "I have to watch Coronation Street. It was a condition of my marriage. My wife was such a fan that I've been watching it since 1962."

Want to see a Corrie look-a-like of Andrew Sach's grand-daughter, Georgina Baillie? Click here.

The last word on Andrew Sachs joining Corrie

This week The Mirror said that Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs would be joining Coronation Street. And they might be right, there's even been a news item on the official Corrie site.

However, it's not the first time this story has done the rounds in the press as Andrew Sachs first popped up in The Express saying he'd love to join Corrie as Norris' brother way back in May 2007. I even blogged the story back then for Corrieblog.

However, before Corrie fans get too excited about Andrew turning up on the cobbles, or indeed Norris having a brother, Ian Wylie's blog at the MEN has a direct line to the Corrie press office and the official line is: “It’s very early days," and it’s important to stress that nothing has been finalised in terms of his possible Corrie role...

...but wouldn't it be great?