Coronation Street actor's husband dies after 'jumping into freezing swimming pool'

Carol Royle's husband suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage after jumping into a freezing swimming pool, the actress said.

2012 Whatsonstage.Com Awards Nominations Party, Cafe De Paris, London, Britain - 02 Dec 2011
Carol Royle

2 Dec 20112012 Whatsonstage.Com Awards Nominations Party, Cafe De Paris, London, Britain - 02 Dec 2011
Carol Royle

2 Dec 2011
Photographer
Dan Wooller/Shutterstock
Image: Carol Royle in 2011. Pic: Dan Wooller/Shutterstock
Why you can trust Sky News

Coronation Street actor Carol Royle says her "heart is aching" following her husband's death, caused by a sudden brain haemorrhage after jumping into a freezing swimming pool.

The actress, 70, had been married to her husband Julian Spear for almost five decades and the couple had two children together, according to ITV.

Actress Carol Royle With Son Sam Taran And Husband Record Company Executive Julian Spear
Actress Carol Royle With Son Sam Taran And Husband Record Company Executive Julian Spear

6 Dec 1984Photographer
Ted Blackbrow/ANL/Shutterstock
Image: Royle with her late husband Julian and son Sam Taran in 1984. Pic: Ted Blackbrow/ANL/Shutterstock

Royle, who plays Anthea Deering in the soap, said in an Instagram post: "I am desperately sorry to post that we lost my wonderful husband, Julian Spear [on] 9 December.

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

Photographer
ITV/Shutterstock

'Endeavour' TV Show, Series 7, Episode 3 UK - 2020
Carol Royle as Mrs Bright.

2020
Image: Royle as Mrs Bright in the TV show Endeavour in 2020. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

Royle joined the Coronation Street cast in 2024 and had previously starred in Casualty, Doctors, and Heartbeat.

Her husband worked in the music industry, and was the son of actor Bernard Spear who starred in the 1968 classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.