Veteran actor Bernard Cribbins as died aged 93, his agent has confirmed.
The star's huge body of work included narrating The Wombles and he also was a lead role in the film adaptation of The Railway Children, as well as the Carry On series of movies.
Cribbins' agent, Gavin Barker Associates, said in a statement: "Beloved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has passed away at the age of 93. His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like 'The Railway Children' and the 'Carry On' series, hit 60's song 'Right Said Fred', a notorious guest on 'Fawlty Towers' and narrating 'The Wombles'.
"He worked well into his 90's, 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 actor in the wake of his death being announced this morning.
Actress Kathy Burke took to Twitter to share a collection of pictures of Bernard: "Simply wonderful Bernard Cribbins RIP."
BBC News correspondent Lizo Mzimba was one of the first to pay tribute, 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 also paid tribute to the "legendary" late actor, writing: "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."
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