Shipley actor and Coronation Street legend Bryan Mosley is spending the festive season surrounded by his family and friends - and away from the telly.

Millions of viewers will be watching on New Year's Day when Mr Mosley's character Alf Roberts is killed off after 37 years in the top-rating soap.

But Mr Mosley, who filmed Alf's exit earlier this month, will not be among those glued to the box.

He said: "I doubt we'll be watching. Someone will be recording it but we don't normally watch TV at New Year.''

Instead Mr Mosley, 67, had a traditional Christmas with his wife, Norma, and the rest of the family, including six children and grandchildren at their home in Nab Wood.

He said: ''Norma always gives a wonderful Christmas. We had a turkey with all the trimmings - we had a goose one year but it wasn't big enough. I love the family and they love me. We've got a lot to be thankful for and it's just wonderful to spend Christmas and the New Year together.''

The committed Christian also plans to attend at least one of the services at St Walburga's RC Church over the holiday.

Looking ahead to the New Year, Mr Mosley said he was not giving up acting, adding: "I've got lots of plans and things in the pipeline, including some with Granada, but can't reveal what they are at the moment.''

Coronation Street bosses announced their decision to kill off Alf, the Wetherfield grocer turned town mayor who first appeared on the nation's screens in 1961, in October.

It is understood he will die peacefully in an armchair at step-daughter Gail Platt's house on New Year's Eve.

Mr Mosley, who had a heart attack in 1991, had had a lighter filming schedule since returning to the set in October 1997 following a heart scare eight months earlier and it is believed his family had urged him to quit for health reasons.

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