Coronation Street star Debbie Rush’s son has died just a week before Christmas.
Ms Rush, 59, who played Anna Windass in the ITV soap from 2008 to 2018, revealed that her ‘beautiful baby boy’ William, 31, passed away on Wednesday.
The mother-of-three and her family have been left ‘completely broken’ by the news and are suffering an ‘unimaginable grief’ in the wake of his death.
In an emotional post on Instagram, the star said: ‘Our beautiful baby boy, William, passed away on 17th December. As a family, our hearts are completely broken, and there are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss.
‘Even in our darkest moment, William gave the most precious gift of all. Through being an organ donor, he has given hope and life to other families, thinking of others right to the very end. His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.
‘We kindly ask that our privacy be respected as we navigate this unimaginable grief. William will always be loved, always missed, and forever in our hearts.’
William found on screen stardom as schoolboy Josh Stevenson in BBC One’s Waterloo Road between 2009 to 2013. He also starred in Vera, Casualty and had a long running role as Ali Duncan in Grange Hill from 2005 to 2007.
He followed in his mother’s footsteps by appearing in an episode of Corrie in 2014.
William later appeared on X Factor in 2016 when he was 21. He performed a version of Zara Larsson’s Lush Life and made it all the way to the third of four elimination stages.
Ms Rush joined the long-running soap as Anna Windass in 2008. Her most memorable storyline came in 2018, when Anna stabbed villain Pat Phelan, played by Connor McIntyre, to death.
William’s sister Poppy is also an actress and, like her brother and mother, has starred in multiple episodes of Coronation Street.
Debbie married husband Andrew in 1989 and the couple share three children, Poppy, William and Tom.
Fellow Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor sent a message of support for Ms Rush saying: ‘Oh Debbie I’m so shocked to hear this news.
‘Sending you so much love. What a beautiful boy he was.’
Waterloo Road actress Katie McGlynn also paid tribute to William. She wrote: ‘Debbie I am so sorry to you all.
‘Will brought a smile to everyone’s face and was a very kind soul. Thinking of you & sending so much love to you all.’
William first got into acting after playing the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver at his school Bamford Academy. He also attributed the school’s headteacher Cherie Rivero as his inspiration for becoming an actor.
‘Without this school I wouldn’t be acting,’ he said in an interview in 2013. ‘Ms Rivero made me do the play and that was what has influenced me into what I am doing now.
‘Without her I wouldn’t have the career I have now.’
William attended the Manchester School of Acting before landing his first on screen role in BBC’s Shameless in 2007.
He then starred as Ali Duncan in seven episodes of Grange Hill from 2005 to 2007, but his most well known role came in 2009 when he landed a part in Waterloo Road.
William played the role of Josh Stevenson, the son of English teacher Tom Clarkson, for 70 episodes.
