Tearful farewell for street charmer

12:02am Monday 20th October 2008

Family and friends say a tearful farewell to Coronation Street charmer Liam Connor, little realising the man responsible for his death is among the mourners.

Viewers saw best man Liam (Rob James-Collier) mown down in a hit-and-run crash during the stag night for factory owner Tony Gordon in Friday's show.

The crash was one of three murder scenes which were filmed to keep viewers guessing about Liam's fate until the last minute.

Mourners at Liam's funeral think his death was a tragic accident but viewers heard Tony (Gray O'Brien) whisper to the dying man that his murder was revenge for Liam's affair with bride-to-be Carla Connor (Alison King).

Liam's wife Maria (Samia Smith) arrived too late to tell her cheating husband he was going to be a father and she is inconsolable during funeral scenes which will be shown on ITV on Monday, October 27.

The other mourners include Liam's sister Michelle Connor (Kym Ryder) and her son Ryan (Ben Thompson).

James-Collier joined Coronation Street in 2006, after his first role as a womanising pub landlord in BBC1 drama Down to Earth.

He was twice voted sexiest male at the British Soap Awards.

"I wanted the character to die to get a bit of closure. It is hard as an actor when you leave a show like Corrie because you are constantly being asked when you are going back. If they kill off your character that can't happen," he told What's On TV magazine.

He said he was delighted to have such a dramatic exit but had been so busy filming Liam's final scenes that he had not had time to plan his next move after the show.