Andrew Sachs

Andrew Sachs' 'Coronation Street' character will be killed off. The former 'Fawlty Towers' star - who signed to play Ramsay Clegg for 15 episodes in May - had been hoping to extend his three-month stint on the ITV soap. Producers have, however, refused the 79-year-old actor's plea to stay on the show, killing off his character with a dramatic heart attack.

Executives were initially planning to send Ramsay back to Australia at the end of Sachs' contract, making it possible for him to return at a later date.

But in a new twist, Ramsay - the mysterious half-brother of Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) - will collapse and die as he boards the plane.

An insider told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Andrew's character was only meant to be temporary but his departure will be dramatic."

Ramsay arrived in Weatherfield from Australia in May. Norris was not interested in a family reunion, but Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) soon fell for the handsome stranger.

Ramsay will break Emily's heart when he decides to move home, but when he dies, she starts an impassioned campaign to have him buried locally.