Coronation Street legend Charlie Lawson marries fiancée Debbie Stanley in a lavish soap star ceremony
CORONATION Street legend Charlie Lawson has married fiancée Debbie Stanley surrounded by soaps icons.
The actor, best known for portraying fiery patriarch Jim McDonald, tied the knot with his long-term partner at the stunning Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa in Cheshire.
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Charlie’s close friend Eamonn Holmes officiated the ceremony, while Steve McDonald actor Simon Gregson, Janice Battersby star Vicky Entwistle, Carla Connor actress Alison King and Kym Marsh were in attendance.
Emmerdale star Claire King, Slade’s Noddy Holder and This Morning couple The Speakmans were also on hand to celebrate the special day.
Charlie, 64, and Debbie, 59, who have been together for 22 years, officially became husband and wife at Macclesfield Register Office weeks earlier.
The Northern Irishman, who arrived at the hotel in a helicopter, was, as usual, very direct at their second ceremony.
He said OK!: “I just wanted to keep going. Bringing actors together is like herding cats. We could have done the wedding two weeks ago, but we had to see who could do it. On the day of the wedding, as we were preparing for it. “When I flew in the helicopter, I was tired of waiting – it couldn’t go fast enough.”
However, he showed his softer side as his bride walked down the aisle in a stunning white dress.
He said: “When you’ve been in love with someone for so long – 22 years – you still get so excited waiting to see them and Debbie looked extraordinary and very beautiful. It was a wonderful moment when she walked down the aisle.” I shed a tear.
Charlie said he couldn’t think of anyone better to oversee the wedding than Eamonn and he hoped the day would give him a boost after his last wedding Health fights.
Simon Gregson, who played Charlie’s son Steve in The Cobbles, took on the role of best man after fellow actor Neil Morrissey was unable to attend the day due to work commitments in the West End.
Everything worked out perfectly in the end, and Simon brought the audience to its knees with a hilarious and sometimes touching speech for his long-time pal.
Debbie said: “Simon’s speech was incredible. He spends a lot of time at our house, so he knows us really well. He joked about some of the things he wanted to say and I told him, “No, please don’t.” “I don’t say things like that.” But he’s a comedian, so it was really funny. But everyone also cried during the emotional parts.”
More than 200 people partied late into the night and Kym Marsh played Hear’Say’s hit Pure and Simple.
Fun-loving Charlie and Debbie partied until 4am and ended the evening with champagne with Vicky Entwistle.
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