Coronation Street’s Charlie Lawson ties the knot with fiancée Debbie Stanley in lavish ceremony officiated by Eamonn Holmes and surrounded by fellow soap stars

Charlie Lawson has married his fiancée Debbie Stanley in a lavish ceremony at the Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa in Cheshire.

The Coronation Street star, 64, who is best known for playing fiery patriarch Jim McDonald in the soap, has been engaged to his partner, 59, for over a decade.

The ceremony was officiated by Charlie’s close friend Eamonn Holmes and was attended by several other soap stars.

Simon Gregson, Vicky Entwistle, Alison King, Eva Pope, Claire King and Kym Marsh were all in attendance.

Other famous faces on the guest list were Slade’s Noddy Holder, ex-footballer Willie Morgan and This Morning resident therapists, Nik and Eva Speakman. 

Tied the knot! Charlie Lawson has married his fiancée Debbie Stanley in a lavish ceremony at the Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa in Cheshire (pictured in 2019)

Star-studded affair: The ceremony was officiated by Charlie's close friend Eamonn Holmes and was attended by several other soap stars

Star-studded affair: The ceremony was officiated by Charlie’s close friend Eamonn Holmes and was attended by several other soap stars

Charlie and Debbie have been together for 22 years and officially became man and wife two weeks earlier at Macclesfield Registry Office.

The actor arrived at the hotel in a helicopter and discussed their nuptials to OK!, saying: ‘I just wanted to get on with it. Getting actors together is like herding cats.

‘We could have done the wedding two weeks ago, but we had to see who could make it. 

‘On the day of the wedding, when we were preparing to fly in the helicopter, I was fed up with waiting – it couldn’t happen quick enough for me.’

However, he admitted to getting choked up when he saw his bride walk down the aisle in her wedding dress. 

Charlie said: ‘When you’ve been in love with someone for so long – 22 years – there’s still that excitement of waiting to see her, and Debbie looked extraordinary and very beautiful. It was a wonderful moment when she walked down the aisle. I shed a tear.’

The ceremony was attended by 68 guests, including Debbie’s daughter Sophia and grandsons Reuben and Noah, with 200 more showing up for the reception. 

Simon, who played Charlie’s son Steve on Corrie, was the best man, after fellow actor Neil Morrissey was unable to make the day due to work commitments.

Long time coming: The Coronation Street star, 64, who is best known for playing fiery patriarch Jim McDonald in the soap, has been engaged to his partner, 59, for over a decade (pictured on Corrie)

Long time coming: The Coronation Street star, 64, who is best known for playing fiery patriarch Jim McDonald in the soap, has been engaged to his partner, 59, for over a decade (pictured on Corrie)

He brought the house down with a hilarious and touching speech, gushing: ‘I’m so, so, so proud to be your friend, and I love you both very much.’

Debbie praised: ‘Simon’s speech was unbelievable. He spends a lot of time at home with us so he knows us really well. 

‘He joked about some of the things he was going to say, and I told him, “No, please don’t say things like that.” But he’s a comedian, so it was really funny. But everyone was crying at the emotional parts, too.’

Charlie explained he had chosen Eamonn to officiate because of their long-standing friendship and because he hoped that it would him ‘a bit of a lift’ after his recent health struggles.

He revealed that there were other stars invited who couldn’t make the wedding, including Beverley Callard, Sarah Lancashire and Bill Roache.

He added that choosing who to put on the guest list was a tricky task because ‘not everyone I know from that world gets along’.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk