Tim Healy '˜feeling much better' after illness left him fighting for his life

The 64-year-old reportedly had been fighting for his life when he fell ill almost a month ago during filming for the hit ITV show, according to the Mirror.

On Saturday he was reportedly flown home to a hospital in Manchester after his condition had stabilised enough for him to travel.

An ITV spokesman said: “Tim is feeling much better after his spell in hospital and all the Benidorm cast and crew wish him a healthy recovery in his own time.

“Filming schedules have been adjusted to accommodate Tim’s absence on screen, the show is currently mid-way through filming the new series which will air (in) 2017.”

His former wife, Loose Women star Denise Welch, is said to have flown to visit him in Spain during his illness, while his new wife Joan was at his side.

Former co-star Scott Garnham, who is playing Tony in the West End production of Billy Elliot - Healy played the character’s father Jackie Elliot for eight months in 2005 - was among those who wished him well on Twitter.

He said: “Well this is very sad. Wishing Billy Elliot original Dad (Tim Healy) a speedy recover (sic).”

Healy, who comes from Newcastle upon Tyne, has played the cross-dressing character of Les/Lesley in Benidorm since 2010.

He found fame in 1980s’ Geordie comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, and more recently has appeared as Gastric in Still Open All Hours, opposite Sir David Jason.

He and Welch were married for 24 years before divorcing in 2012.

They have two sons, one of whom, Matt Healy is the singer with rock band The 1975.