Tributes paid to Castaway 2000 member Colin Corrigan

Julie Corrigan, 66, has paid tribute to her late husband Colin, 70, who died on March 24 three weeks after a serious stroke.

Since his death, the “blended family” which comprises of Julie, daughter Natasha, Julia’s sons Ricky and Andy Bohane, and Colin’s son Douglas Corrigan, have all been “devastated”.

The couple moved to Silver End, near Witham in 2006, and married seven years prior in December 2000, but the pair had been courting since 1987.

Star - Left to right: Colin Corrigan, Natasha Corrigan, and Julie Corrigan on Castaway 2000 24 years ago (Image: BBC)

At the turn of the millennium, Colin, Julie, and their daughter Natasha, who was six at the time, took part in the forward-thinking reality television programme Castaway 2000 on BBC One.

The programme followed a group of 36 men, women and children who upped sticks to Scotland and had to build a community on the remote island of Taransay over the course of a year.

According to Julie, Colin was “incredibly friendly, social, and people really took to him”.

Paying tribute she said: “I’m already missing him dreadfully.

In love - Colin Corrigan and Julie Corrigan (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

Couple - Another image of Julie Corrigan and Colin Corrigan at an event (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

“I will miss him to my dying day, he was such a huge part of my life, no one could step into his shoes, he was a very unique character.

“I think about him every minute, he was the love of my life, no marriage is without its ups and downs but through it all I always knew he was the one and we were destined to meet.”

Appearing on Castaway 2000 brought the couple closer together, and it was a “fabulous time” for their relationship and for their daughter who was excited to take part.

Natasha, 32, of Hatfield Peverel, said: "He was always full of laughter, jokes, and sarcasm.

Recent 70th birthday party - Left to right: Colin Corrigan, Natasha Corrigan, Colin's granddaughter Bella, Ricky Bohane, Douglas Corrigan, and Douglas’s partner Kezia (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

Family orientated - an old image of Colin Corrigan with granddaughter Bella (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

"He had his own sayings, instead of 'if you don't like the heat get out of the kitchen', he would say 'if you don't like the soup don't dip the ladle in'.

"He loved his dogs, and he was a brilliant grandad to my daughter and the other children in the family, he was a very hands on dad.

"He was a very memorable person, very quick witted and clever in the things he'd come back with as well."

Castaway co-star, Ron Copsey, has spoken about the man, he said: "Colin was a great guy and will be missed by all that knew him. He was funny, caring and kind and loved his family.

Family selfie - Bella, Natasha Corrigan, and Colin Corrigan in December last year (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

Friends - Ron Copsey and Colin Corrigan (Image: Natasha Corrigan)

“Colin and I were like brothers and our wicked sense of fun and humour certainly fuelled a few memorable times, he was a top bloke."

Colin’s ashes are to be scattered on the isle of Taransay and a 25th anniversary get-together of the Castaway 2000 cast is planned for next year.

For information on strokes and the symptoms, head to nhs.uk/conditions/stroke.