The British acting world is in mourning following the death of beloved television actress Lorraine Cheshire at the age of 65. Her partner, John Dixon, confirmed the heartbreaking news in an emotional social media post.
A Heartfelt Tribute from a Partner
Announcing her passing, John Dixon wrote on Facebook: ‘The love of my life passed away early this morning 46 years, and now my heart is broken. To the green fields beyond.’ The message confirmed that the Waterloo Road star died in the early hours of the morning.
Cheshire, who was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, began her acting career relatively late in life at the age of 38. She graduated from drama school several years later and quickly made her mark on British television.
A Prolific Career on Screen
Her first major television role came in 1999 in the series The Cops, which she described as a ‘baptism of fire’. She recalled the director having to tell her: “Lorraine, love, you don’t have to shout. We have a microphone!” She credited her husband at the time for encouraging her to pursue her passion.
From there, her career flourished with notable roles in popular series including:
- Holby City and Casualty
- Early Doors and The Royal
- The acclaimed BBC drama Life On Mars
She is perhaps best known to audiences for playing Fleur Budgen in Waterloo Road, a role she held across several episodes from 2007 for five years. More recently, she starred as Lorraine Bird in Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge and enjoyed a recurring role as Sue in the hit Sky comedy Trollied.
Her final project was the short film Incompatible, in which she played the character Pauline.
An Outpouring of Love from Co-Stars and Fans
The news prompted an immediate wave of grief and tribute from colleagues across the industry. Her Early Doors co-star Christine Bottomley shared a poignant image of a lit candle, a glass of brandy and a Coca-Cola on Instagram with the simple caption: ‘No words today.’
Actor Anthony Crank posted a moving tribute, calling Cheshire ‘One of the kindest, funniest, beautiful and caring souls I ever had the privilege to know.’ He ended his message with ‘REST IN POWER YOU ABSOLUTE QUEEN.’
Trollied co-star Chanel Cresswell wrote on Instagram: ‘I can’t quite believe I’m writing this… Lozza thank you for being a friend to me. I’ll miss you so so much… You was one of a kind. Rest in peace.’
Fans also shared their sorrow and appreciation online. One fan, mikepriestley13, wrote: ‘I loved Lorraine in EARLY DOORS. Absolutely brilliant [in] Trollied and Waterloo Road. What an actress. A big loss.’ Another, Antony Corrigan, added: ‘A warm and versatile actress, for me she’s most remembered for Waterloo Road and Ackley Bridge.’
The death of Lorraine Cheshire represents a significant loss to British television, remembered for her warmth, versatility, and the indelible mark she left on every role she played.
