The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of beloved actress Lorraine Cheshire at the age of 65. Best known for her roles in the BBC dramas Early Doors and Waterloo Road, her passing was confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post by her partner.
Heartbreaking Announcement and Tributes
Lorraine Cheshire's death was announced on 19 December 2025 by her partner, John Dixon. In a poignant Facebook post, he wrote: "The love of my life passed away early this morning 46 years and now my heart is broken. To the green fields beyond." He accompanied the words with a photograph of the actress.
Tributes from colleagues and friends began to flood in immediately. Chanel Cresswell, her co-star from the series Trollied, expressed her shock and heartbreak, calling Lorraine "one of a kind" and thanking her for over a decade of friendship.
Actor Anthony Crank described her as "one of the kindest, funniest, beautiful and caring souls" he had ever known. Her Early Doors co-star, Christine Bottomley, shared a symbolic image of a lit candle and a brandy and coke on her Instagram Stories, adding a heartbroken emoji with the caption "no words today".
A Celebrated Career on Screen
Lorraine Cheshire enjoyed a long and varied career on British television. She first gained significant attention for her portrayal of Joan Bell in two series of the critically acclaimed sitcom Early Doors.
She later became a familiar face to millions as the character Fleur Budgen in the popular school-based drama Waterloo Road, a role she played from 2007 to 2012. Her extensive CV also included notable appearances in Trollied, Ackley Bridge, Doctors, Casualty, and The Royal.
A Second Tragic Loss for Waterloo Road
Tragically, Lorraine Cheshire's death marks the second loss for the Waterloo Road community in a matter of days. It follows the announcement that William Rush, the 31-year-old son of former Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush, had also passed away on 17 December 2025.
In a statement, Debbie Rush confirmed her son's death and revealed he had been an organ donor, offering "hope and life to other families".
Fans and Public Reaction
Devastated fans have taken to social media to pay their respects and share their memories of Lorraine Cheshire's work. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote: "RIP Lorraine Cheshire. I loved Lorraine in Early Doors. Absolutely brilliant and trollied and Waterloo Road. What an actress. A big loss."
Another added: "What sad news... You really were such a kind, warm soul… thinking of all your family at this heartbreaking time." A third fan echoed the sentiment of a difficult week, posting: "Just read that actress Lorraine Cheshire has died... Awful news, what a horrible couple of days for WR [Waterloo Road]."
The outpouring of grief underscores the deep affection held for an actress whose talent and warmth touched both her colleagues and her audience.
