Emmerdale star James Hooton confirmed the tragic news that his dad Kenneth has died.
The Sam Dingle actor, 50, shared a picture of him and his father on Instagram alongside a lengthy caption.
‘It’s with a heavy heart that I have to report the passing of my dad, Kenneth Hooton, on Tuesday 16th April, a week before what would have been his 82nd birthday,’ he penned.
‘This is the last photo I took with my dad, on the 16th February 2024. He had been in hospital through Christmas and had recently been moved to a new care home in Sutton in Ashfield.’
He added: ‘He had Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia but still recognised me and other family members and friends, right until the end!
He lived a life full to the brim with experiences and had no regrets.
‘The last time I saw him a few weeks ago, along with his old friend Martin meats, my dad said, “I’m in the done it club now”. R.I.P Dad!’
The soap star received an outpouring amount of love from his fellow co-stars, with Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) commenting: ‘So much love and strength.’
Actress Amy Walsh (Tracy Metcalfe) replied: ‘Awww sending love Jim!’
Earlier this year, James’s character Sam was at the centre of an emotional storyline after his partner Lydia (Karen Blick) coming to the realisation she was ready to be intimate with Sam again following her rape.
She decided to dress up and cook dinner for her husband for a few hours by themselves, but when Sam returned home he made a mistake and told Lydia he doesn’t want intimacy, or sex.
The comments hurt Lydia but ultimately, Sam meant well. He was worried about pressuring Lydia and said he didn’t ‘want [them] being funny with each other’ because it’s the last night he has at home before visiting his dad.
