Coronation Street’s Amanda Barrie pays tribute to onscreen husband Johnny Briggs

Former Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie has paid a touching tribute to her onscreen husband Johnny Briggs, who passed away on Sunday aged 85.

The actress, 85, played Alma Baldwin in the ITV soap, the long-suffering wife of Johnny’s character Mike Baldwin.

Looking back on her friendship with Johnny and their characters’ 20-year love story, Amanda sweetly thanked her late pal ‘for an immensely happy time.’

Golden couple: Former Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie has paid a touching tribute to her onscreen husband Johnny Briggs, who passed away on Sunday aged 85

In a new interview, Amanda, who left the cobbles in 2001, told of the moment she heard of Johnny’s passing, saying that ‘with us old ones’, his death was not a ‘complete shock’, but was still ‘sad’ nonetheless. 

The TV legend, who is also known for her roles in the Carry On films, recently tweeted a tribute to Johnny on Twitter in which she said she’ll see him for a G&T in ‘the Rovers in the Sky.’

On what Johnny would have made of her tweet, she told The Mirror: ‘Johnny would have thought, “What’s she doing?” if I’d been too serious and tearful. I keep seeing his face all over TV this week. He would have loved that. It’s weird, it takes you whizzing right back and I’ve been ­remembering all the good times we had.’

Tribute: Looking back on her friendship with Johnny and their characters' 20-year love story, Amanda sweetly thanked her late pal 'for an immensely happy time'

Tribute: Looking back on her friendship with Johnny and their characters’ 20-year love story, Amanda sweetly thanked her late pal ‘for an immensely happy time’

Meanwhile, the actress reflected on Johnny’s character, describing him as a ‘naughty schoolboy’ who never grew up.

She said: ‘If you merged Mike Baldwin to Johnny Briggs you wouldn’t know where the join was. He was like a very naughty schoolboy. We’d sit there talking for ages, being silly. None of us had grown up – he’d grown up even less than me.’

Amanda also recalled many memories the two shared together, including Johnny ringing her at 3 in the morning after he’d remembered that they’d previously appeared together in a film in the 60s before their Corrie partnership began. 

The way they were: The actress, 85, played Alma Baldwin in the ITV soap, the long-suffering wife of Johnny's character Mike Baldwin (pictured as Alma and Mike in 1992)

The way they were: The actress, 85, played Alma Baldwin in the ITV soap, the long-suffering wife of Johnny’s character Mike Baldwin (pictured as Alma and Mike in 1992)

She also told how Johnny’s second wife Christine would always ask her to keep an eye on him and ensure he ‘behaved’ during filming trips and awards shows, with Amanda joking that it wasn’t her ‘job’ as she was technically not married to him. 

Amid her tribute, Amanda looked back on funny moments on set between the pair, with the TV remembering how Johnny would always get out of scrapes by using his charming ‘grin’. 

Telling the publication how much he meant to her, she added: ‘He was a silly old twit but I was very fond of him. Johnny, thank you for an immensely happy time. Alma was Mike’s soulmate but you treated Amanda better.’

Friendship: 'If you merged Mike Baldwin to Johnny Briggs you wouldn’t know where the join was. He was like a very naughty schoolboy. We’d sit there talking for ages, being silly'

Friendship: ‘If you merged Mike Baldwin to Johnny Briggs you wouldn’t know where the join was. He was like a very naughty schoolboy. We’d sit there talking for ages, being silly’

Memory: Amanda also recalled many memories the two shared together, including Johnny ringing her at 3 in the morning after he'd remembered that they'd previously appeared together in a film in the 60s before their Corrie partnership began

Memory: Amanda also recalled many memories the two shared together, including Johnny ringing her at 3 in the morning after he’d remembered that they’d previously appeared together in a film in the 60s before their Corrie partnership began

Johnny played underwear factory boss Mike Baldwin on the cobbles from 1976 to 2006 and received an MBE in 2007. 

Mike died of a heart attack in 2006 following a battle with Alzheimer’s. The lothario passed away in rival Ken Barlow’s arms and in his confusion, called out for his late wife Alma. 

Johnny appeared in 2,349 episodes, including a 2012 special as a ghost, and is best remembered for his famous feud with Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, after he had an affair with his wife Deirdre, played by the late Anne Kirkbride. 

Fun times: She also told how Johnny's second wife Christine would always ask her to keep an eye on him and ensure he 'behaved' during filming trips and awards shows, with Amanda joking that it wasn't her 'job'

Fun times: She also told how Johnny’s second wife Christine would always ask her to keep an eye on him and ensure he ‘behaved’ during filming trips and awards shows, with Amanda joking that it wasn’t her ‘job’

Lovely: 'He was a silly old twit but I was very fond of him. Johnny, thank you for an immensely happy time. Alma was Mike’s soulmate but you treated Amanda better'

Lovely: ‘He was a silly old twit but I was very fond of him. Johnny, thank you for an immensely happy time. Alma was Mike’s soulmate but you treated Amanda better’

Amanda’s heartwarming words come after Coronation Street paid a touching tribute to the actor.

The ITV soap dedicated Monday’s episode to the Mike Baldwin star, as they hailed the screen legend ‘incomparable’.

Following the latest episode, the show shared an image of Johnny on their official Twitter page and said: ‘In loving memory of Johnny Briggs 1935-2021.’ 

'In loving memory of Johnny Briggs 1935-2021':  Coronation Street paid a touching tribute to actor Johnny

‘In loving memory of Johnny Briggs 1935-2021’:  Coronation Street paid a touching tribute to actor Johnny

In addition, the tweet also read: ‘Tonight’s episode was in loving memory of the incomparable Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin.’ 

Fans of the soap were quick to take to Twitter to praise the soap for honouring the late actor.

‘Lovely tribute to a Corrie legend. R.I.P Johnny Briggs’ wrote one viewer.

While another shared: ‘Nice tribute to Johnny Briggs tonight from @itvcorrie Mike Baldwin was a legend of the street.. specially the storyline with the love triangle Ken Mike and derdrie [sic]’

In memory: The ITV soap dedicated Monday's episode to the Mike Baldwin star, as they hailed the screen legend 'incomparable'

In memory: The ITV soap dedicated Monday’s episode to the Mike Baldwin star, as they hailed the screen legend ‘incomparable’

‘Nice touch by @itvcorrie at the end there, in loving memory of Johnny Briggs x’ tweeted a third.

With another fan adding: ‘Lovely tribute to Johnny at the end of @itvcorrie.’

An announcement at the beginning of the episode also told how the episode was dedicated to the TV favourite.  

Loving fans: Fans of the soap were quick to take to Twitter to praise the soap for honouring the late actor

Loving fans: Fans of the soap were quick to take to Twitter to praise the soap for honouring the late actor

Johnny Briggs passed away at his home on Sunday morning after a long illness, his family confirmed.

It remains unclear what the illness was. 

Role: Johnny played the underwear factory boss from 1976 to 2006 and and is best remembered for his famous feud with Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) after he had an affair with his wife Deirdre, played by the late Anne Kirkbride

Role: Johnny played the underwear factory boss from 1976 to 2006 and and is best remembered for his famous feud with Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) after he had an affair with his wife Deirdre, played by the late Anne Kirkbride

A family statement said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Johnny Briggs.

‘He passed away peacefully this morning after a long illness, with family by his side. He was 85. 

‘We politely ask for privacy at this time, so that we can quietly grieve as a family and remember the wonderful times we had with him. Thank you.’

Briggs split his time between a home in Portishead, North Somerset, UK, and a house in Florida though it is unclear where he was staying at time of his death. 

Sad: Johnny Briggs passed away at his home on Sunday morning after a long illness, his family confirmed. It remains unclear what the illness was

Sad: Johnny Briggs passed away at his home on Sunday morning after a long illness, his family confirmed. It remains unclear what the illness was