West End producer and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright dies aged 78

Bill Kenwright, Everton chairman and West End producer, has died aged 78

After enjoying enormous success with popular hits including Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, he became involved with his boyhood club Everton, and acted as chairman from 2004.

Kenwright’s death has been confirmed by his beloved club, which said fans had lost “a chairman, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration”.

An official statement from the club added that Kenwright was “a lifelong Evertonian”, who had “led the club through a period of unprecedented change in English football”.

A statement on behalf of Bill Kenwright Limited said:  “Following a long battle with illness, Bill passed away peacefully last night, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

“Bill was driven by his passions and devoted his life to them; his deep love of theatre, film, music and his beloved Everton, and the families they created.”

The statement continued: “He impacted the lives of thousands, whether that be through the launching of careers or his unending loyalty, generosity and unfaltering friendship and support.

“In a multi-award-winning career spanning six decades, Bill produced over 500 West End, Broadway, UK touring and international theatre productions, films and music albums. His impact on the arts industry has been profound.”

“We will remember him with huge love and admiration – the shows will of course go on, as he would have wished, and his towering legacy will continue.”

Kenwright began as an actor and secured the role of Gordon Clegg on Coronation Street, before leaving the soap in the late sixties to pursue production.

In theatre, he produced a long-running UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and oversaw a production of the musical Blood Brothers in 1987, which would enjoy a run of 24 years at the Phoenix Theatre on the West End. Kenwright was later awarded a CBE for services to film and theatre in 2001. 

Amid this success, he became involved with the Everton board in 1989. In the 19 seasons leading the club as chariman, Everton secured 12 top eight finishes, including a top four finish in 2005, a run to the 2009 FA Cup final and European qualification on six separate occasions.

Earlier this month, Everton announced that the Liverpool-born chairman had undergone a “completely successful” operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his liver following a diagnosis in August. The club described complications during the surgery which forced their chairman to spend a “prolonged period” in an intensive care unit. 

Tributes poured in from the world of football and theatre, with Sir Ian Mckellan crediting the producer with helping his career, stating: “Like many grateful actors, I am in debt to Bill Kenwright for employment.”

The actor added: “He seemed to have known everyone in the business and to care about them. Yet every chat would veer round to his equal passion – Everton football.”

Sir Ian called Kenwright “a unique impresario”, and concluded: “Whether the West End lights will be turned off in his memory, certainly our business will be dimmer now he has gone.”

Actor Julian Clary also said he would be “forever grateful” to the producer, and comedian Jason Manford described Kenwright as a “funny and honest” man who would be “sadly missed”.

Liverpool football club, the local rivals of his beloved Everton, also paid tribute to the long-serving chairman, saying in a statement: “The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool FC are with Bill’s family, friends and everyone at Everton.”

Kenwright’s partner, actress Jenny Seagrove, said that she had lost her “darling Bill”.