Dale Meeks, best known for playing Simon Meredith in Emmerdale, died at the age of 48 in April 2023. He passed away from heart failure at South Tyneside Hospital, just before his 49th birthday which fell on the same day as King Charles' Coronation.
Early Career and Byker Grove
Born in South Shields, Meeks began his acting career in the BBC children's drama Byker Grove, where he played Greg, the leader of the Denton Burn youth group, rivals to the main characters. His co-stars included Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who later became presenting duo Ant and Dec.
Meeks transitioned to adult roles and gained fame as Simon Meredith, a fishmonger on Emmerdale. His character had a tumultuous relationship with Nicola Blackstock before leaving for Costa Rica with his best friend in 2006.
Stage and Other TV Work
Beyond television, Meeks was an accomplished stage actor, appearing in productions such as The Producers, Chicago, A Christmas Carol, and the West End show Love Never Dies. He was also a talented singer; he and Emmerdale co-star Mark Charnock won ITV's Stars in Their Eyes Celebrity Special as the Blues Brothers.
His other TV credits include Casualty, Inspector George Gently, and the Tracey Beaker spin-off The Dumping Ground. His final role was in the ITV drama The Hunt For Raoul Moat.
Tributes from Co-Stars and Friends
Meeks' brother, Philip, said in a tribute: "My heart is broken."
Ant and Dec released a joint statement: "We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale's passing. He was the loveliest of guys, even though he was a Denton 'Burner', the arch nemesis of the Byker 'Grovers'! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad."
Emmerdale star Nick Miles, who plays Jimmy King, said: "Such sad news. He was a lovely generous man. RIP." Charlie Hardwick, who played Val Pollard, added: "I'm very saddened by this dreadful news. I liked Dale so much and loved working with him. He was a funny, sweet, very talented gentle giant."
Les Dennis, who performed with Meeks in pantomime, said: "He was great company and so talented. Thoughts with his family and friends." Michelle Heaton of Liberty X, also a panto co-star, said: "He made me and my then-husband Andy (Scott-Lee) feel so welcome and had been a regular at panto throughout many years and just made us feel really welcome and at ease. It's a real shame that we've lost him."
Writing and Legacy
In addition to acting, Meeks co-wrote a play about South Shields FC's FA Vase victory in 2017, titled Everywhere We Go. Following his death, the club tweeted: "Everyone at SSFC was saddened to learn of the death of Dale Meeks. Dale co-wrote Everywhere We Go, the popular play based on our journey to FA Vase success in 2017. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time."
