Two Doors Down stars devastated after sudden death of show legend
THE cast of hit BBC sitcom Two Doors Down were left in shock after the sudden death of the show’s co-creator.
Stars of the hit series including Elaine C Smith, Alex Norton and wrestler Grado were left in tears at the death of Simon Carlyle.
There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
The 47-year-old from Ayr wrote Two Doors Down with writer pal Gregor Sharp, 52, as a one-off special in 2013 before it was commissioned for the BBC network in 2016.
An insider said: “Simon was incredibly popular with all the cast and crew – they’re absolutely in bits over this.
“Simon was always on set. Everyone loved him and loved his writing. No one can quite believe it. They’re all devastated.”
A seventh series about the neighbours of the fictional Latimer Crescent completed filming at the end of July with all the cast filmed performing a last day dance for a video posted on Twitter.
But in an interview with The Scottish Sun in 2018, single Simon told of his struggles to make it as a comedy writer and had worked as a passenger greeter at Glasgow airport to make ends meet
He said: “You basically don’t make any money from writing for the first 20 years.
“I have school friends who became plumbers and earn great cash with a big house and car and it makes you wonder why you keep trying to write.”
The show proved to be so popular that BBC chiefs moved it from BBC Two to a primetime slot on BBC1 last year.
In the series, Elaine C. Smith plays foul-mouthed neighbour Christine, along with Alex Norton as long-suffering Eric Baird, Arabella Weir as his wife Beth, Doon Mackichan as boozy pal Cathy and Jonathan Watson as her henpecked hubby Colin and Grado stars as rough diamond Alan.
Simon, who also once modelled dishwashers on STV’s Wheel Of Fortune, said: “The whole show is based in reality.
“Most people have a drunk aunty just like Cathy.”
Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of our friend and colleague Simon Carlyle.
“Simon was a wonderful comedy talent who, amongst many other credits, co-created and wrote the multi-award winning series Two Doors Down.
“His warm comic voice shone through these characters, garnering huge audience affection, and firmly establishing it as a long-lasting sitcom favourite.
“Our sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
And Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, paid tribute saying: “All of us at BBC Scotland are deeply saddened to hear this news.
“Simon was a major writing talent, loved for his work on Two Doors Down and many other series.
“Our thoughts are with Simon’s family and friends, and the cast and crew on Two Doors Down.”
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