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Craig Charles was almost shot dead by a police sniper as he filmed a gangster movie
12th December 2009
By Stian Alexander[/align]
CORONATION Street star Craig Charles was almost shot dead by a police sniper as he filmed a gangster movie. The 45-year-old actor nearly died as armed officers trained their guns on him after he committed a “murder”.
Film bosses had forgotten to tell local police officers they were shooting the movie and when Craig acted out slitting his victim’s throat and dumping him in the river, horrified onlookers called police. But he only realised that he was in danger when he noticed an infrared laser dot on his chest, meaning a police marksman was aiming straight at him.
Craig, who plays cabbie Lloyd Mullaney in the ITV1 soap, was only saved from certain death when the marksman recognised him and other officers noticed his co-star, Cold Feet actor John Thomson, 40, rehearsing lines in a nearby boatyard.
Movie director Tony Royden revealed how his leading man was nearly bumped off himself while filming The Dealer on the River Medway in Kent. “We had been trying to conceal the filming from the public,” he said. "But apparently the police received five different phone calls telling them someone was being murdered.” Tony, whose movie is based on his novel The Dealer, also revealed the Red Dwarf star had amazingly managed to stay calm after his horrifying brush with death.
He told fans this week at a book-signing in London that moments after the near tragedy Craig insisted on continuing to film the scene. Former BBC music producer Tony, who also wrote the book the film was based on, added: “Luckily, Craig Charles was such a professional that the whole situation was defused extremely quickly. If it hadn’t been, we could have seen a tragic death.”
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It's just as well he wasn't running or they'd have had reason to kill him as a terrorist!
I agree with the earlier post. Another waste of a great talent. 
