Byker Grove creator Adele Rose who was Coronation Street’s longest-serving writer has died aged 87

Byker Grove creator Adele Rose, who propelled Ant and Dec to stardom and was Coronation Street‘s longest-serving writer, has died at the age of 87.

The writer’s husband, Peter Chadwick, said she died from pneumonia in a hospital on Monday after developing the condition around one week ago.

He told Chronicle Live: ‘She developed pneumonia about a week ago and never got over it. She passed away in the local hospital, where she had the best care.’

Born in Salford, Adele wrote nearly 460 episodes of the television soap from 1961 to 1998, after being encouraged to put forward a sample script by writer Jack Rosenthal while working as a secretary at Granada Television. 

Byker Grove creator Adele Rose (pictured above), who propelled Ant and Dec to stardom and was Coronation Street ‘s longest-serving writer, has died at the age of 87

Ant and Dec starring in Byker Grove at the 10th anniversary of the show in Tyneside. Adele created the drama after being approached by TV executive Andrea Wonfor in 1989

Mr Chadwick paid tribute to his wife, saying: ‘She had a huge sense of humour which was often quite naughty and quite wicked. 

‘She loved writing the battleaxes in Coronation Street.’ 

Adele created Byker Grove, a drama set in Newcastle centred around a youth club that launched the careers of Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnell, after being approached by TV executive Andrea Wonfor in 1989. 

Ant and Dec played best mates on the show and starred in one of the most famous episodes when PJ was blinded in a paintballing accident. 

The hit drama, which was home to a band of angst-ridden teenagers, came to an end after 17 years in 2006 after its stars left to go their separate ways.

Adele also wrote for BBC’s Z-Cars and ITV’s Robin’s Nest and Bless This House.

Peter met his wife at the Millionaire Club in Manchester when they were both in their 40s and he worked for the Daily Mail.

The couple were together for more than 40 years and married 10 years ago. They both had children from earlier marriages.

Adele leaves behind her son, Steve, and grandson, Daniel. Her daughter, Carrie, passed away several years ago after contracting sepsis. 

Adele and John Finch, the script writers of Coronation Street, pictured. Born in Salford, Adele wrote nearly 460 episodes of the television soap from 1961 to 1998