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  "path": "/celebrity/itv-coronation-street-bafta-paul-seed-dies",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-07T18:53:43.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Alan Carr accused of 'cultural appropriation' as fans divided by Scottish castle purchase",
    "Nicola Peltz 'takes swipe' at Victoria Beckham's Easter post as Brooklyn rift persists",
    "Penny Lancaster admits 'I deserve a medal' in rare Rod Stewart marriage confession",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nCoronation Street actor Paul Seed has died at 78 following a battle with cancer.\n\nAfter leaving the ITV soap, where he was known for playing Father Harris, the actor become one of British television's most distinguished directors.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe died on March 7, as confirmed by an obituary in The Guardian.\n\nAfter stepping away from acting in the 1980s, Mr Seed carved out a remarkable second career behind the camera, helming acclaimed productions including the BBC political thriller House of Cards and ITV favourites A Touch of Frost and Doc Martin.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHis directorial achievements earned him two BAFTA awards during a career that saw him shape some of the most celebrated British dramas of recent decades.\n\nMr Seed appeared in Coronation Street between 1979 and 1981, taking on the recurring role of the parish priest Father Harris.\n\nDuring his time on the soap, he performed some of the programme's most memorable ceremonial scenes, including conducting the wedding of Gail, played by Helen Worth, to Brian, portrayed by Christopher Quinten.\n\nThe character also baptised the couple's son Nick Tilsley at the fictional St. Boniface Church in Lower Broughton.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt was while working on the BBC police drama Z Cars that Seed met Elizabeth Cassidy, who would become his wife.\n\nFollowing the completion of the BBC's directors' training programme in the late 1970s, Mr Seed transitioned from performer to filmmaker, quickly establishing himself behind the camera.\n\nHis debut television drama, Too Late to Talk to Billy in 1982, provided Kenneth Branagh with his first small-screen role.\n\nThe following year, Mr Seed directed a young Liam Neeson in Across the Water, demonstrating an early talent for drawing out powerful performances from actors who would later become international stars.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Alan Carr accused of 'cultural appropriation' as fans divided by Scottish castle purchase\n  * Nicola Peltz 'takes swipe' at Victoria Beckham's Easter post as Brooklyn rift persists\n  * Penny Lancaster admits 'I deserve a medal' in rare Rod Stewart marriage confession\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHis most celebrated directorial work came with the 1990 adaptation of House of Cards, based on Michael Dobbs's novel and scripted by Andrew Davies, along with its sequel To Play the King.\n\nMr Seed's extensive directing portfolio also encompassed Auf Widersehen, Pet, Lark Rise to Candleford and New Tricks.\n\nMr Seed's directorial excellence was recognised with two BAFTA awards: Best Single Drama for A Rather English Marriage in 1998, and Best Drama for the 2010 BBC One series Just William, which starred Outnumbered's Daniel Roche in the title role alongside Rebecca Front as his mother.\n\nBefore moving behind the camera, his acting credits included appearances in Doctor Who, Pretenders and Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIn 1980, he appeared alongside Julie Walters in Victoria Wood's television play Nearly a Happy Ending, set during a salesmen's gathering at a Manchester hotel.\n\nHis theatrical work included productions of The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, The Birthday Party and Love's Labour's Lost.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Seed, who was born in Bideford and studied drama at the University of Manchester, is survived by his wife Elizabeth and their sons Jack and Sean.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "ITV Coronation Street star and BAFTA-winning director Paul Seed dies at 78"
}