'Byker Grove' Creator-Writer Adele Rose Dies At 87, Tributes Pour In

Adele Rose, creator of iconic 1980s British television series Byker Grove, has passed away aged 87. Her husband, Peter Chadwick, said the famed television writer died from pneumonia on December 28, after developing the illness a week prior. Rose's legacy is best remembered for boosting comic host duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - popularly known as Ant & Dec - to global recognition. Tributes are pouring in for the late writing giant, who was credited for being the longest-serving writer on soap opera Coronation Street.

Upon his wife's demise, Chadwick was quoted saying, "She had a huge sense of humour which was often quite naughty and quite wicked." Recalling an incident which was to be Rose's step into writing Coronation Street (or Corrie), he said, "She rang the producer and said, "All the strong characters in this programme are women, but you’ve got no women writers... Well, I’m a woman and I’m a writer."

Rose thus went on to carve her status as Corrie's first female, and ultimately longest-serving, writer, with around 460 episodes of the soap between 1961 and 1998, as per The Independent.

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Remembering Adele Rose

Hailing from Manchester, England, Rose was promoted from being a secretary at Granada services to being one of their most prominent and successful writers on their creation Coronation Street. By the time she parted ways with the soap in 1998, she had been credited with more episodes than any other writer on the show.

Other projects she worked on were series Z-Cars, Rooms, Heartbeat, Angels and The Dustbinmen.

Rose's work on longrunning British teen drama series Byker Grove, which aired between 1989 and 2006, stands out most distinctly in her body of work. As a writer and creator on the show, she propelled the careers of notable stars like Ant & Dec, Jill Halfpenny, and Donna Air. Byker Grove, which went on to win many awards, was credited with bringing maturity to the small screen regarding teen issues of homosexuality, bullying, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and drugs.

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Tributes Pour In For Adele Rose

Rose's death is being mourned as the loss of a writing legend in the British entertainment industry. Host duo Ant & Dec, remembering Rose, wrote on Twitter, "She was an incredible lady and a wonderful writer. We will always be grateful for what she did for us and the North East." See their tweet below: 

We are very sad to hear of the passing of Adele Rose, the creator of #BykerGrove. She was an incredible lady and a wonderful writer. We will always be grateful for what she did for us and the North East. Thank you Adele and rest in peace. X 🙏

— antanddec (@antanddec) December 30, 2020

Here is how social media users are reminiscing Rose's life: 

Really sad to hear of the death of Adele Rose. A pioneer, and the longest serving writer on Coronation Street at a time when there were few female writers. She also wrote the iconic Bet and Rita argument which shows off her incredible writing. RIP Adele. pic.twitter.com/jd0ibRAiGg

— Lewis (@lewispringle) December 30, 2020

I am very saddened to hear about #AdeleRose. Thank you for creating Byker Grove and your stories in Coronation Street and all my prayers are with her family and friends.

— Tom (@tomkennerley3) December 30, 2020

Rest well #AdeleRose 🌹 One of @itvcorrie longest serving and finest writers. Creator of #BykerGrove, Adele was one of my idols growing up. Superb writer of dialogue. Outstanding professional. Thanks for everything. @ConversationStr #Corrie @antanddec

— Jon (@JonnoDew) December 30, 2020

Image: Chronicle Live