Paul Seed dead: Coronation Street legend dies as devastating tributes pour in
A former Coronation Street actor and director behind some of the UK's most popular dramas including House of Cards, A Touch of Frost and Doc Martin has died.
A former Coronation Street actor and television director responsible for some of Britain's most celebrated dramas has died, it has been confirmed.
Paul Seed embarked on his career as an actor during the 1970s, portraying Father Harris in Corrie, making appearances between 1979 and 1981. Throughout his time on the soap opera, he officiated the wedding of Helen Worth's character Gail and Christopher Quinten's Brian.
The character also presided over the christening of their son Nick Tilsley at the fictional St. Boniface Church in Lower Broughton, the real-life suburb of Salford that was utilised for many years in the opening titles.
The Guardian reports that Devon-born Paul succumbed to cancer aged 78 and died on March 7. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Cassidy, whom he met while working on the BBC police drama Z Cars, and their two sons, Jack and Sean.
Paul departed from acting during the 1980s after completing the BBC's directors' course and subsequently went on to shape some of television's most prominent programmes from behind the camera. He became an enormously accomplished director of dramas, amongst them the BBC political thriller House of Cards and ITV's A Touch of Frost and Doc Martin.
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His obituary notes that shortly after graduating he was offered his first television drama, 1982's Too Late to Talk to Billy, which marked Kenneth Branagh's debut appearance on TV.
He also directed a young Liam Neeson the following year in Across the Water. He went on to claim two BAFTAs, one for Best Single Drama for A Rather English Marriage and another for Best Drama for the 2010 series of Just William, which aired on BBC One and starred Outnumbered actor Daniel Roche as William and Rebecca Front as his mother.
Paul's additional acting credits included roles in Doctor Who, Pretenders and Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected, while his directing portfolio also encompasses Auf Widersehen, Pet, Lark Rise to Candleford and New Tricks.
He further featured in the Victoria Wood television play Nearly a Happy Ending in 1980, sharing the screen with the comedian and frequent collaborator Julie Walters in the production, set during a "dismal salesmen's party" at a Manchester hotel.
