Former royal butler Paul Burrell reveals Dean Sullivan’s and Princess Diana were friends and he ‘made her laugh’ during calls to the palace as he attends Brookside star’s Liverpool funeral

Paul Burrell revealed after Dean Sullivan’s funeral on Tuesday that the Brookside star and Diana, Princess of Wales, had a budding friendship and ‘made her laugh’.

The former Royal butler, 65, said Diana was a ‘fan’ of the star’s hit television programme, which last aired 20 years ago, and made a secret visit to the set.

Late actor Dean, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, died last month at the age of 68 after battling prostate cancer.

Paul explained that the princess’s secret visit was where she met Paul and started their blossoming friendship, which led to phone calls to the palace.

He said: ‘They struck up a friendship. I was a conductor of that friendship and when the princess passed, Dean came to me to mourn with me for the princess.’

Paul Burrel revealed after Dean Sullivan’s funeral on Tuesday that the Brookside star and Diana, Princess of Wales, had a budding friendship and ‘made her laugh’

Late actor Dean, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, died last month at the age of 68 after battling prostate cancer

The former Royal butler Paul, 65, said Diana (pictured in 1985)  was a ‘fan’ of the star’s hit television programme, which last aired 20 years ago, and made a secret visit to the set

He described Sullivan as a ‘warm, gentle and kind person’.

He added: ‘I’m here to represent not only myself but the princess, above, because she’d want me to be here.

‘I think it’s appropriate I come to say goodbye to Dean. We’ll miss him.’

Speaking of when the two would have calls to and from the palace, Paul said: ‘I’d put the call through and I’d listen to all the laughter upstairs.

‘He made her laugh.’

He said Diana sent Sullivan, who he described as a ‘great royalist’, a signed photo of herself and wrote to him many times.

He added: ‘I think he cherished that relationship with her.’

Dean publicly confirmed he was living with the illness in May this year – five years after his original diagnosis.

Paul explained that the princess’s secret visit was where she met Paul and started their blossoming friendship, which led to phone calls to the palace

An order of service showed a recent photo of the actor and was titled ‘In thanksgiving for the life of Dean Sullivan’ 

The actor confirmed he was living with prostate cancer in May – five years after his original diagnosis (pictured with his co-stars Claire Sweeney, Sue Jenkins, and George Christopher)

Ahead of the 1pm service at Our Lady And St Nicholas, photos of the soap star were seen on screens inside the parish.

An order of service showed, a recent photo of Dean and was titled ‘In thanksgiving for the life of Dean Sullivan.’

The service was followed by a private cremation.

A funeral notice published in the Liverpool Echo asked for donations to be made to Prostate Cancer UK.

Paul was in attendance after claiming that Brookside was Princess Diana’s favourite TV programme.

He told Digital Spy: ‘ She went to the set of Brookside and got to know some of the cast very well, especially Dean. He became a friend, who she regularly telephoned.’

Dean had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and spoke in 2019 about his treatment and diagnosis to the Mirror.

A statement from Dean’s family confirmed the sad news of his death on Thursday. ‘It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on 29th November 2023 peacefully following a short illness.

‘To millions he was and very much still is remembered as ‘Jimmy’, to family and friends he was ‘Dino’. Dean’s family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.’

‘We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief,’ read the message from Hamilton Management and his family.

Dean was scheduled to appear in a Southport production of Jack And The Beanstalk from December 7, but pulled out on November 17 due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’

The former Brookside actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was finally discharged by his consultant last year after undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Looking back on his battle with the disease in August, Dean told how he put himself ‘in the hands of fate’ during his ill health and tried to continue living his life.

Inside the venue a donation point was set up for Prostate Cancer UK

Photos of the soap star were seen on screens inside the church 

Dean’s coffin was adorned with floral tributes 

The 1pm service took place at Our Lady And St Nicholas in Liverpool 

A horse and carriage led the cortege arriving for the funeral of Brookside actor Dean

Floral tributes were arranged spelling out ‘brother’ and ‘Deano’ 

In 2019, Sullivan opened up about his ‘shell shock’ cancer diagnosis, admitting he never thought he had an issue with his prostate as he wasn’t displaying many of the typical symptoms (pictured in 2016)

Dean, from Liverpool, joined Brookside in 1986, four years after its launch and remained on the soap until it was axed in 2003 

He told the Liverpool Echo: ‘The way I dealt with it was that I just sort of put myself in the hands of fate. If this was my time, then this was my time so I was quite philosophical about it really.

‘I know that people would worry themselves into an early grave as it were but I’m not that sort of person, I try to keep positive about things and I just got on with my life.’

Liverpool-born Dean told how he wasn’t displaying most of the symptoms of prostate cancer other than a reduced flow.

However, he felt like something wasn’t right and went to the doctor, who just told him to keep an eye on it, but he returned to another doctor a few weeks later.

He said: ‘If I’d have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut, 11 times out of 10, you’re right, we’ve still got that fight or flight instinct.’

The Atkinson Theatre, where he was expected to tread the boards for a three week run, confirmed his departure in a tweet shortly after his withdrawal.

They wrote: ‘There has been a change to the line-up for this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime.

‘Dean Sullivan will no longer be performing in the role of Fleshcreep, as previously advertised and the role will now be played by Mark Paterson.’

The actor admitted early detection was key to his successful radiotherapy treatment and urged other people to get checked if they are concerned.

In 2019, Dean opened up about his ‘shell shock’ cancer diagnosis, admitting he never thought he had an issue with his prostate as he wasn’t displaying many of the typical symptoms.

He told The Mirror at the time: ‘I remember being a bit shell shocked really, because even though we know these days that one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer of some sort, you never think it will be you.’

Dean admitted he didn’t immediately share the news with his loved ones or friends because he isn’t the type of person to ‘elicit’ support from their pals.

He kept the news to a few close friends and family members, explaining: ‘You’re the one living with it and dealing with it and my way of dealing with it was not to let it be a major part of my life.’

He added: ‘Also, there’s the situation when you think ‘I don’t want to tell this story again’, so only my closest family and friends knew. It was one of those when I thought ‘just get on with it and what will be will be’.’

Dean, from Liverpool, joined Brookside in 1986, four years after its launch and remained on the soap until it was axed in 2003.

He was at the centre of many of the soap’s most memorable storylines- including the moment Jimmy discovered the body of villain Trevor Jordache under a patio two years after his murder.

Dean won two British Soap Awards during his time on the show – including a special recognition award and held the record of filming more episodes than any other actor on the show.

He also appeared in BBC’s Doctors, ITV’s The Royal and ITV’s Crime Stories. Among his most recent roles was an appearance in 2022 Netflix short film Forgotten Word.

The actor also performed on stage, playing Scullery in the North West premiere of Jim Cartwright’s Road in Bolton, and starring in a one-man monologue tour of Chip In The Sugar by Alan Bennett.

Dean made his final TV appearance on Celebrity Antique Road Trip in June 2023.

The new Antique Road Trip episode saw him go head to head against Heartbeat icon Tricia Penrose on the show as they traveled across the UK with antiques experts in search of treasures before competing to make the most money at an auction.

The BBC show confirmed they had permission from Dean’s family to air the episode.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, they penned: ‘We were incredibly sad to hear last week of the death of Dean Sullivan, known for his iconic performance as Jimmy Corkhill in Brookside.

‘With the blessing of his family, the episode we recorded with Dean and his long-time friend @triciapenrose will air this evening as planned.’ They later added: ‘We hope you enjoy the programme, and our thoughts are with Dean’s family and friends at this time.’

Dean made his final TV appearance on Celebrity Antique Road Tripin June

The BBC show confirmed they had permission from Dean’s family to air the episode

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