Last Of The Summer Wine star Tom Owen has died aged 73.
He played Tom Simmonite in the UK's longest-running comedy series for 10 years from 2000.
The star's appearance on the show continued a family tradition after his father, Bill Owen, portrayed his on-screen father, Compo Simmonite.
Tom's family confirmed his death in a statement, which read: "He passed away peacefully and is survived by his two children, James and William, and ex-wife, Mary.”
The actor also starred in The Bill, Upstairs Downstairs and The Hello Goodbye Man.
After leaving school, Tom started his long career in acting. Thanks to his father, he landed his first job as an assistant stage manager at Leatherhead Theatre in Surrey.
A year later, he got a similar job at the Westminster Theatre.
He was working in television for four years when he returned to repertory theatre in Sidmouth, Devon, and worked and directed there.
In 1999, his father passed away from cancer and he was soon after chosen to play Compo's long-lost son on Last Of The Summer Wine.
"It was two or three days after Dad had died," he previously said of the call from the show’s producer, Alan Bell, in 2000.
"Obviously my mind was on other things, like organising the funeral, and it hadn’t occurred to me at all that I would be approached to play Compo’s long-lost son."
Tom added: "Alan suggested the idea to me and I thought about it for two seconds before saying yes."
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Tom added that it was 'very odd' taking on the role after the death of his father.
"It was emotional, but very early on I decided the only way I could tackle it was by being a professional," he explained.
"I was very aware of how wary the other cast members might be of me. They had all been through a traumatic shock when Dad died. They had known him for all those years as well.
"Dad loved the show and I think he would be very proud that it is going to continue, and in a way it’s continuing in his memory. I think he would be very happy that I’ve taken his place."
Tom has also appeared in the West End in Lulu and starred in over twenty pantomimes.
He also starred in the 2018 feature film The Bromley Boys.
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