Carry On and Coronation Street star Kenneth Cope dies aged 93

Cope also starred in Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) and an episode of Doctor Who.

Actor Kenneth Cope has died at the age of 93 (Dave Thompson/PA) (PA Archive)

Carry On and Coronation Street star Kenneth Cope has died at the age of 93, his former agent said.

He made his name as ghost detective Marty Hopkirk in the ITV supernatural detective series Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased).

It saw him solve crimes from beyond the grave while being visible only to his partner Jeff Randall, after being murdered during an investigation in the first episode.

Sandra Chalmers, of The Artists Partnership, confirmed he died surrounded by his family on Wednesday.

She shared a statement from his family which read: “Ken passed away yesterday peacefully in his sleep with his wife and family by his side.”

They described him as “an incredible icon of British TV and film”, with a career spanning six decades that “contributed to some of the most iconic moments in British culture” as well as being “a natural comedy actor”.

Cult classic series Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) was known as My Partner The Ghost in the US, and was later remade with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer in 2000, and lasted two series.

Speaking to the PA news agency in 1994, Cope said he had “happy times” making the programme.

Cope said: “I used to think people liked it because they were happy times when we made it. The sun was always shining.

“As a kid you wanted to be Superman, you wanted to be able to do things, to find the magic stone and rub it and a genie would appear.

“Randall and Hopkirk was quite escapist. There was a nice guy there who could do magical things.”

Kenneth’s portrayal of Jed Stone, also known as Sonny Jim, on Coronation Street between 1961 and 1966 made him a firm favourite with the soap’s fans

Coronation Street spokesperson

Born in Liverpool in 1931, he also starred in Coronation Street, appearing in the soap as Jed Stone in more than 100 episodes from 1961 to 1963, before briefly returning in 2008 and 2009.

A spokesperson for the soap said: “Kenneth’s portrayal of Jed Stone, also known as Sonny Jim, on Coronation Street between 1961 and 1966 made him a firm favourite with the soap’s fans.

“He was a talented actor and writer and we were delighted when he agreed to reprise the role 42 years later in 2008.

“We are sorry to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Cope went on to star in two Carry On films, Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) and Carry On Matron (1972), and he also appeared in 1963’s Carry On Jack in an uncredited role.

Fellow actor Robin Askwith also paid tribute to Cope, having appeared alongside him in a 1969 episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).

One of the first actors I ever worked with, individual, encouraging and generous

Robin Askwith

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “So sorry to hear about Kenneth Cope passing away at 93.

“One of the first actors I ever worked with, individual, encouraging and generous.”

Cope featured in 1963 Hammer horror film The Damned and appeared in TV comedy drama Minder, an episode of espionage series The Avengers and the Warriors’ Gate episode of Doctor Who in 1981.

The actor married actress Renny Lister, whom he worked with on Coronation Street, in 1961, the couple had two sons Nick and Mark, who formed a rock band called The Candyskins together. They also had a daughter, Martha, who is an actress best known for her roles in Doctors and EastEnders.

Cope spent the last years of his life living in Southport, where he was a columnist for the Southport Visiter newspaper.

The family statement also said he was “a proud native Liverpudlian and a loyal supporter of Everton Football Club”, adding they are “deeply saddened by his passing and ask that his family are given privacy at this time”.