Benidorm star Tim Healy flown back to UK after suffering 'life-threatening' illness in Spain

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Showbiz friends of actor Tim Healy have wished him a speedy recovery following reports the Benidorm star has been fighting for his life in a Spanish hospital.

The 64-year-old had been filming the hit ITV show when he fell ill almost a month ago, according to the Mirror.

Tim Healy has reportedly been in hospital for a month with illness (Anthony Devlin/PA)

His former wife, Loose Women star Denise Welch, is said to have flown to visit him in Spain during his illness, while his new wife, Joan, was at his side.

On Saturday, he was reportedly flown home to a hospital in Manchester after his condition had stabilised enough for him to travel.

Scott Garnham, who is playing Tony in the West End production of Billy Elliot – Healy played the character’s father Jackie Elliot for eight months in 2005 – wished him well on Twitter.

He said: “Well, this is very sad. Wishing Billy Elliot original Dad (Tim Healy) a speedy recover (sic).”

Tim, who comes from Newcastle upon Tyne, has played the cross-dressing character of Les/Lesley in Benidorm since 2010.

He found fame in the 1980s comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, and more recently has appeared as Gastric in Still Open All Hours, opposite Sir David Jason.

He and Denise were married for 24 years before divorcing in 2012.

They have two sons, one of whom, Matt Healy is the singer with rock band The 1975.

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