Find out what happened to Heartbeat and The Royal actor Ian Carmichael

The actor appeared in Heartbeat and its spin-off The Royal

16 Jul 2020

Senior Features Writer

Heartbeat was a regular staple on our television screens for over 18 years between 1992 and 2010. While no doubt fans of the show were sad to see it come to an end, luckily repeats have also been a regular feature for many to enjoy time and time again.

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Over the course of its 18 series, many of the show's faces became household names and went on to achieve success after the show. However, some, sadly are no longer with us. One of those beloved characters is Ian Carmichael. Ian appeared on the show in 2003 as TJ Middleditch before reprising his role for the spin-off show. But sadly, Ian died in 2010. Find out what happened here…

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Ian Carmichael on Heartbeat

In 2003 Ian played the role of hospital secretary TJ Middleditch in the ITV police drama. His character was the chairman of the hospital, overseeing and helping to fund it along with the NHS. Shortly after his character appeared in Heartbeat, a spin-off show was created, leading Ian to reprise his role as TJ. The spin-off was called The Royal and he appeared in the show until 2009. The show was cancelled two years later. Ian starred alongside Julian Ovenden, Zoie Kennedy and Emmerdale's Michelle Hardwick.

Ian starred in Heartbeat spin-off show The Royal

What else was Ian Carmichael known for?

Prior to his work on the ITV drama, Ian was best-known for his roles in many films from the mid-twentieth century such as Brothers in Law (also starring Richard Attenborough), I'm All Right Jack, and The Magnificent Deadly Seven Sins. He also recorded a number of audio books including Three Men in a Boat and wrote his own autobiography, named Will the Real Ian Carmichael... Ian was married twice in his life.

Ian was also known for his film work in the fifties and sixties

He met his first wife, Jean Pyman McLean at a dance when he station at Whitby during the Second World War. They married in 1943 and remained so until her passing in 1983. They had two daughters together. Nine years after losing his first wife, Ian married novelist Kate.