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Brookside Dean Sullivan’s funeral service was attended by his former co-stars and loved ones on Tuesday afternoon in Liverpool.

The cast of the soap, which ran from 1982 to 2003, gathered outside Liverpool Parish Church for a photograph as they commemorated occasion together.

The photo was posted by Louis Emerick, who played Mick Johnson, on his Twitter page as he paid tribute to his late co-star.

Dean, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4  soap opera, died last month at the age of 68 after battling prostate cancer.

Louis’ caption read: ‘Dean Sullivan: A few of us outside the church… having a laff [sic] as Deano would have wanted. Always a pleasure meeting up with the old Brooky mats, just a pity it’s for a sad occasion! Rip Deano, you’d have been made-up at the love shown for you.’

X, Sue Jenkins, Louis Emerick, Claire Sweeney, Phil Redmond, Michael Starkey

X, Sue Jenkins, Louis Emerick, Claire Sweeney, Phil Redmond, Michael Starkey

Louis' caption read: 'Dean Sullivan: A few of us outside the church... having a laff [sic] as Deano would have wanted'

Louis’ caption read: ‘Dean Sullivan: A few of us outside the church… having a laff [sic] as Deano would have wanted’

The actor confirmed he was living with prostate cancer in May - five years after his original diagnosis (pictured with his co-stars Claire Sweeney, Sue Jenkins, and George Christopher)

The actor confirmed he was living with prostate cancer in May – five years after his original diagnosis (pictured with his co-stars Claire Sweeney, Sue Jenkins, and George Christopher)

The photograph included Dean’s on-screen wife Sue Jenkins, Louis, Claire Sweeney, Phil Redmond and Michael Starkey.

Sue, 65, revealed that during the service the Brookside theme was played in tribute to Dean’s time on the show, where he was the longest-serving cast member.

Sharing her own post online, she wrote: ‘How proud would Dean be? What a truly amazing farewell. The words spoken and the music sang and played (including the Brookside theme) were perfect and touched every heart.

‘Fly high Dean, as you always have. With love and fondest memories.’

The group were in attendance at the 1pm service at Our Lady And St Nicholas, where photos of the soap star were seen on screens inside the parish.

An order of service showed, a photo of Dean and was titled ‘In thanksgiving for the life of Dean Sullivan.’ The service was followed by a private cremation.

A funeral notice, published in the Liverpool Echo, asked for donations to be made to Prostate Cancer UK.

Royal butler Paul Burrell was in attendance after once claiming that Brookside was Princess Diana’s favourite TV programme.

Sue, 65, revealed that during the service the Brookside theme was played in tribute to Dean's time on the show, where he was the longest-serving cast member

Sue, 65, revealed that during the service the Brookside theme was played in tribute to Dean’s time on the show, where he was the longest-serving cast member

An order of service showed a recent photo of the actor and was titled 'In thanksgiving for the life of Dean Sullivan'

An order of service showed a recent photo of the actor and was titled ‘In thanksgiving for the life of Dean Sullivan’ 

Late actor Dean, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, died last month at the age of 68 (pictured in 2004)

Late actor Dean, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, died last month at the age of 68 (pictured in 2004) 

He told Digital Spy: ‘She went to the set of Brookside and got to know some of the cast very well, especially Dean. He became a friend, who she regularly telephoned.’

Dean had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and spoke in 2019 about his treatment and diagnosis to the Mirror.

A statement from Dean’s family confirmed the sad news of his death on Thursday. ‘It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on 29th November 2023 peacefully following a short illness.

‘To millions he was and very much still is remembered as ‘Jimmy’, to family and friends he was ‘Dino’. Dean’s family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.’

‘We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief,’ read the message from Hamilton Management and his family.

Dean was scheduled to appear in a Southport production of Jack And The Beanstalk from December 7, but pulled out on November 17 due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’

Inside the venue a donation point was set up for Prostate Cancer UK

Inside the venue a donation point was set up for Prostate Cancer UK

Dean is pictured with his Brookside onscreen wife Sue Jenkins in Liverpool in September

Dean is pictured with his Brookside onscreen wife Sue Jenkins in Liverpool in September 

The former Brookside actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was finally discharged by his consultant last year after undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Looking back on his battle with the disease in August, Dean told how he put himself ‘in the hands of fate’ during his ill health and tried to continue living his life.

He told the Liverpool Echo: ‘The way I dealt with it was that I just sort of put myself in the hands of fate. If this was my time, then this was my time so I was quite philosophical about it really.

‘I know that people would worry themselves into an early grave as it were but I’m not that sort of person, I try to keep positive about things and I just got on with my life.’

Liverpool born Dean told how he wasn’t displaying most of the symptoms of prostate cancer other than a reduced flow.

However, he felt like something wasn’t right and went to the doctor, who just told him to keep an eye on it, but he returned to another doctor a few weeks later.

He said: ‘If I’d have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut, 11 times out of 10, you’re right, we’ve still got that fight or flight instinct.’

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This post first appeared on Daily mail