Young Coronation Street star Jude Riordan, best known to viewers as Sam Blakeman, recently shared some heartbreaking personal news with fans.
The actor took to social media to say an emotional goodbye to someone very special in his life, and the post quickly prompted an outpouring of love and support from his co-stars and followers. As the sad update spread, several familiar Corrie faces stepped in to comfort the young actor during what has clearly been a difficult moment.
Jude Riordan Shares Heartbreaking News With Coronation Street Fans
Coronation Street viewers have watched Jude Riordan grow up on screen since he first arrived in Weatherfield in 2020 as Sam Blakeman, the son of Nick Tilsley and the late Natasha Blakeman. The young star quickly made an impression with his emotional performances. And his work earned him the Best Newcomer award at the National Television Awards in 2021.
Since joining the ITV soap, Jude has continued to play a key role in several storylines. Most recently, his character Sam has been caught up in the unsettling grooming storyline involving Megan Walsh and Will Driscoll.
Away from the drama of Weatherfield, Jude often gives fans a glimpse into his real life through social media. But his latest post, shared on Monday, carried some deeply sad news. The actor revealed that his beloved dog Ruby had passed away. He also shared several photos of the adorable King Charles Cavalier spaniel that had clearly been part of his life.
Co-Stars Rally Around Jude After Emotional Goodbye
In the emotional caption, Jude explained that Ruby’s passing came as a shock despite her age. He wrote that he never expected to say goodbye so suddenly, even though she had reached the end-of-life stage. Reflecting on the moment, he shared that the family had to say goodbye to Ruby the day before and that he stayed by her side, holding her little face until the very end.
He described losing a dog as incredibly painful and called Ruby a sweet girl who would be missed forever, adding that he hoped her tired legs were strong again as she ran over the rainbow bridge.
The heartfelt message immediately drew responses from several of his Coronation Street co-stars. Beth Nixon, who plays Megan Walsh in the soap’s current storyline, commented that she could tell from the photos that Ruby had an amazing life and sent love to Jude and his family. Other Corrie cast members also stepped in with supportive messages. Cait Fitton simply wrote, “Sending love Jude.” While Bella Flanagan shared her sympathy and hoped Jude and his family were doing okay.
Support continued to pour in from Bella’s twin brother, Will Flanagan as he told Jude he was sorry for his loss. Rachel Leskovac, who was Jude’s on-screen mum, also reached out with a message of love and hugs. Hollyoaks actress Isabelle Smith added her own kind words, writing that she was very sorry for the loss and sending lots of love. Fortunately, the warm response has shown just how much support surrounds him during such a difficult goodbye. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.