Eric Allan, best known for his role as Frank Blakey in the early years of Emmerdale Farm, has died at the age of 85. The actor appeared in the soap from 1972 to 1974, before it was rebranded as Emmerdale. His character married Janie Harker in the show's first wedding.
After leaving Emmerdale, Allan became a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4's The Archers, playing farmer Bert Fry for 25 years. He took over the role from Roger Hume, who died in 1999. Reflecting on the character in 2021, Allan said: 'He's the character the production team tend to turn to if the storylines are getting too depressing and a bit of light relief is called for.'
Allan also appeared in Coronation Street in 1977 as Les Fox, one of Bet Lynch's boyfriends. His other television credits included Z Cars, The New Avengers, Bergerac, The Bill, and EastEnders. He starred in the BBC series Hold the Back Page in 1985 as a tabloid sports editor opposite David Warner.
Born in 1940, Allan spent his childhood in Yorkshire and Wolverhampton before moving to Canada at 15. He returned to Britain at 18 to train at RADA. He began his career in Leicester and Nottingham theatres before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Allan worked with director Mike Leigh, taking the leading role in Leigh's debut feature film Bleak Moments. He played Peter, the emotionally repressed admirer of socially awkward Sylvia. The film became known for its uncomfortable dating scenes. Leigh also cast Allan as a quarryman in the television production Nuts in May (1976) and in several theatrical works. Leigh described Allan as 'an extremely nice man'.
Allan is survived by his wife Susan and their two children.
