Ricky Tomlinson's brother has died from coronavirus.
Ricky Tomlinson
The 'Royle Family' actor - who has siblings Albert, David and Ronnie - confirmed one of his siblings has passed away, and he encouraged people in Liverpool to take part in the city's mass testing pilot amid the pandemic.
In a video shared on Liverpool City Council's Twitter account, he said: "Covid is a killer. I know only too well, because one of my brothers has just died from Covid-19.
"Don't let it happen to you, send away for your kit today and do what you're supposed to do. Save your life and your loved ones around you."
The 81-year-old star - who played Jim Royle in the classic sitcom from 1998 to 2012 - revealed he had already used one of the testing kits.
Showing the kit on camera, he added: "I sent away for one of these testing kits. I've done it and I'm sending it back.
"Then I'm going to send for another one and repeat it again, do the test and send it back."
Under the pilot scheme - which launched on November 6 - anyone living or working in Liverpool is eligible for a test, regardless of whether or not they are showing symptoms of the respiratory illness.
'Call the Midwife' star Stephen McGann also encouraged people to take part, as he revealed his brother Joe - who appears in 'Hollyoaks' - and their mum had been for a test.
He added in a separate video: "My own mum and my big brother Joe have already been down for a test and they're going to go back next week and have another one and I am absolutely chuffed about that because this mass testing pilot puts Liverpool at the front of testing, at the front of research.
"We are where we should be in public health, all coming together to find out how to do this properly to benefit everybody else.
"I think it's a brilliant scheme. If you haven't been down there yet please consider going down."
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