Veteran actor Bernard Cribbins has died.
The star, who narrated The Wombles and starred in Doctor Who as well as the film adaptation of The Railway Children, passed away at the age of 93, his agent has confirmed.
Showrunner Russell T Davies was amongst the first to pay tribute to the late star following the news of his passing.
"Beloved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has passed away at the age of 93," a statement from his agent read confirming his death on Thursday morning.
“His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60s song Right Said Fred, a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles.
“He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat.
“He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.
“Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”
Tributes have been pouring in for the late Doctor Who actor from fans and co-stars on social media in the wake of his death being announced.
The veteran actor played Wilfred Mott in the time travelling series between 2007 and 2010 and filmed scenes to return this year for the 60th anniversary special.
Show creator Russell T.Davies has also paid tribute to the star, saying: "A legend has left the world", referring to Bernard on Instagram as "an old soldier".
Actress Kathy Burke also took to Twitter to mourn his passing, captioning a collection of pictures of Bernard: "Simply wonderful Bernard Cribbins RIP."
BBC News correspondent Lizo Mzimba was one of the first to pay tribute this morning, tweeting: "Bernard Cribbins has died at the age of 93. From the Wombles to Wilf in Doctor Who he entertained generation after generation.
"A genuine national treasure #RIPBernardCribbins."
Russell T Davies' tribute reads: "Bernard Cribbins (1928-2022) I love this man. I love him. That's him as Snout in A Midsummer Night's Dream. D'you fancy doing some Shakespeare, Bernard? 'Let me see the script.'
"He knew everyone! He'd talk about the Beatles and David Niven, and how he once sat on the stairs at a party impersonating bird calls with TH White. Then he'd add 'I said to Ashley Banjo last week...' He loved being in Doctor Who. He said 'Children are calling me grandad in the street!' His first day was on location with Kylie Minogue, but all eyes, even Kylie's, were on Bernard."
He added: "He'd turned up with a suitcase full of props, just in case, including a rubber chicken. And what an actor. Oh, really though, what a wonderful actor. We once took him to the TV Choice Awards and sent him up on his own to collect the award, and the entire room stood up and cheered him. That's a lovely memory.
"He'd phone up and say 'I've got an idea! What if I attack a Dalek with a paintball gun?!' Okay, Bernard, in it went!"He loved Gill with all his heart; he mentioned her in every conversation we ever had. A love story for the ages."
Concluding his statement, he wrote: "I'm so lucky to have known him. Thanks for everything, my old soldier. A legend's left the world."
Sky News presenter Kay Burley also mourned the star's death, tweeting: "RIP Bernard Cribbins. What an absolute legend."
Legendary singer Elaine Page met Bernard on the set of Anything Goes and also paid tribute to her friend on Twitter.
Sharing a pic of the pair, she wrote: "I'm so very sad. My dear pal Bernard Cribbins has died. We met on Anything Goes and kept our 'Friendship' for over 33 years.
A very special man of many talents. Funny, kind, genuine, always had a smile on his face. One of the good guys. I will miss him so very much."
Comedian and actor Matt Lucas has described Bernard Cribbins as a "brilliantly talented man".
The Great British Bake Off star tweeted a picture of him and the late actor, saying: "Thank you Bernard Cribbins for delighting us all."
"A lovely, funny, brilliantly talented man."
Fellow comedian and actor Alan Davies also mourned Bernard's passing on Twitter, sharing a link to Right Said Fred, sung by the late star, and tweeting: "This little song has had a new lease of life at home in recent years as the kids love it.
"They look blank, not knowing what to say, when I tell them my mum used to sing it, so I just play it again. RIP Bernard."
Born in Oldham, Cribbins was revered for his versatility and became a favourite with young audiences all over the country as the narrator of The Wombles, as well as for more than 100 appearances on the children’s favourite, Jackanory.
After appearing on stage for many years, Cribbins made his film debut in 1957’s Davy, before going on to work alongside some of British cinema’s biggest names in films such as Two-Way Stretch, She, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD, the 1967 version of Casino Royale and Frenzy.
He also starred in several Carry On movies and had roles in TV favourites Coronation Street and the revamped Doctor Who.
Off-screen Cribbins enjoyed a successful musical career and had a number of hit records including 1962 comedy songs, Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred, both of which reached the UK singles chart top 10.
Arguably one of the roles he is most famous for was as station porter Albert Perks in The Railway Children, released in 1970.
The film adaptation of E Nesbit’s book chronicles the adventures of three children forced to move from London to Yorkshire after their father is imprisoned for being falsely accused of selling state secrets.
The film also starred a young Jenny Agutter and famously featured the tear-jerking moment at the film’s climax when Agutter’s character cries “daddy, my daddy” as they are reunited on a train platform. Cribbins played the station porter Albert Perks.
In 2011 he received an OBE for services to drama for his long career. Speaking at the investiture ceremony, he said providing the voices of characters such as Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory and Orinoco was simple because of how The Wombles was written.
“The structure of the writing was such that you knew exactly where everybody was socially in that household,” he said.
He went on to regularly appear in the Doctor Who TV series as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of the Doctor’s companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.
Voyage Of The Damned, which was broadcast on Christmas Day in 2007, saw 13.31 million people tune in to watch the then-Doctor, David Tennant, battle to save the crew of a luxury space liner called the Titanic.
Cribbins featured in the episode alongside special guests including Kylie Minogue, Geoffrey Palmer, Clive Swift and Russell Tovey.
He also had the lead role in CBeebies show Old Jack’s Boat and in the 1960s narrated the Tufty Fluffytale series of public information films about road safety.
More recently, reports said Cribbins had been spotted filming alongside Tate and Tennant for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
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