Will Mellor says his dad’s death during lockdown ‘absolutely crippled me’

Will Mellor has opened up about his father’s death during lockdown, revealing that the fact he couldn’t see his dad amid the restrictions ‘absolutely crippled me’.  

The actor, 44, was left devastated when his father Bill passed away in April last year, with the star unable to even hug his dad due to Covid-19 restrictions.

And in a new interview, Will has told how his new role in Coronation Street has been a ‘godsend’ after stating that last year was ‘horrible for himself and his family. 

So sad: Will Mellor has opened up about his father’s death during lockdown, revealing that the fact he couldn’t see his dad amid the restrictions ‘absolutely crippled me’

Speaking about his terrible loss while living under lockdown restrictions, he told Radio Times: ‘He was my hero and we went everywhere together. So, the fact that I couldn’t see him when he was ill absolutely crippled me.

‘I can’t go back and change that. And I’ll never be able to have those last moments with him. So, yes, last year was absolutely horrible for me and my family. But I keep trying to put one foot in front of the other.’

Will went on to say that recently landing the part of menacing drug lord Harvey on Coronation Street was a ‘godsend’, adding that he needed ‘a bit of a boost.’

Tragic: The actor, 44, was left devastated when his father Bill passed away in April last year, with the star unable to even hug his dad due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Tragic: The actor, 44, was left devastated when his father Bill passed away in April last year, with the star unable to even hug his dad due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The former Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star then told he how he must’ve ben the ‘only northern actor’ not to have appeared in the ITV soap, noting that his Corrie fan mum has waited 32 to see him on the cobbles. 

Will also reflected that his dad Bill would’ve been ‘proud’ to see him on the show as he went on to discuss how he’ll keep his dad’s memory alive while he’s filming on the Manchester soap.

He said: ‘I now wear his ring on my little finger, so I can look down at that while I’m filming and feel that he’s on the Street with me. He supported me all my life, so whatever I do, I take him with me by wearing his ring. He lives in me, so it feels like we’re doing this together.’

Boost:  in a new interview, Will has told how his new role in Coronation Street has been a 'godsend' after stating that last year was 'horrible for himself and his family

Boost:  in a new interview, Will has told how his new role in Coronation Street has been a ‘godsend’ after stating that last year was ‘horrible for himself and his family

Will discussed his heartbreak in this week's Radio Times magazine, out now

Will discussed his heartbreak in this week’s Radio Times magazine, out now

In November, Will admitted he started to ‘drink more than he ate’ after losing his dad Bill in April, before revealing it was ‘horrendous’ being unable to even hug him as he was hospitalised during the COVID-19 lockdown

Earlier that year he shared an emotional video with fans revealing his father had passed away after being rushed to hospital in March, but later clarified his death wasn’t a result of COVID-19

Will told New! magazine: ‘It was really tough. It’s been the hardest year. My dad passed away in April, so I was struggling with a lot of stuff. 

‘I probably drank more than I ate. I was getting through lockdown with wine and beer, and then realised that wasn’t a good idea, so I started to get into fitness.’

Will added that he began doing on walks with his wife Michelle and their two children Jayden, 17, and Renee, 13, and began to focus on improving his mental health.

Devastating: 'He was my hero and we went everywhere together. So, the fact that I couldn’t see him when he was ill absolutely crippled me'

Devastating: ‘He was my hero and we went everywhere together. So, the fact that I couldn’t see him when he was ill absolutely crippled me’

The ex Hollyoaks star went onto describe the ‘horrendous’ feeling of being unable to hug his dad after learning he’d been diagnosed with cancer.

He added: ‘And the last thing he said to me was, ”If I got hold of you I wouldn’t be able to let you go.” He went two weeks later.’

In April Will shared an emotional video with fans revealing his father had passed away after being hospitalised in March.

The actor didn’t reveal his father’s cause of death in the clip, which he captioned ‘worst week of my life’, but confirmed in a later post that it wasn’t as a result of COVID-19. 

New role: Will also reflected that his dad Bill would've been 'proud' to see him on the show as he went on to discuss how he'll keep his dad's memory alive while he's filming on the Manchester soap

New role: Will also reflected that his dad Bill would’ve been ‘proud’ to see him on the show as he went on to discuss how he’ll keep his dad’s memory alive while he’s filming on the Manchester soap 

In the heartbreaking video filmed in his garden, Will said: ‘It’s just the hardest time. It’s horrendous. What do you do when you lose your hero?

‘I also know there are a lot of people who are going through this out there. I just want you to know I feel your pain.

‘We’ve just got to try and stick together and get through it. Try and remember the good times. If you think about my dad, remember the good times.

‘That’s what I’m going to do, and we’ll get through this. That’s it.’ 

Family: The actor said he started to 'drink more than he ate' after losing his dad Bill in April and said it was 'horrendous' being unable to even hug him in lockdown (pictured in 2017)

Family: The actor said he started to ‘drink more than he ate’ after losing his dad Bill in April and said it was ‘horrendous’ being unable to even hug him in lockdown (pictured in 2017)

Will then appeared on Loose Women in May, saying his family had been ‘ripped apart’ by Bill’s death. 

Talking about the moment his dad fell ill, Will revealed: ‘I got a phone call out of the blue that he collapsed, he’d had a seizure.

‘Then he got taken in, then they found a mass on his lung and it had gone to his brain, and that was what was causing the seizure, and it was cancer. He died within two weeks.

‘It just ripped us apart, especially in these circumstances. It’s never a good time to lose somebody like that.’

Better: Will added that he realised drinking 'wasn't a good idea,' and focused on fitness by going on walks and bike rides with wife Michelle and their children Jayden, 17, and Renee, 13

Better: Will added that he realised drinking ‘wasn’t a good idea,’ and focused on fitness by going on walks and bike rides with wife Michelle and their children Jayden, 17, and Renee, 13

Sad: Will then appeared on Loose Women in May, saying his family had been 'ripped apart' by Bill's death

Sad: Will then appeared on Loose Women in May, saying his family had been ‘ripped apart’ by Bill’s death