Comedian Roy Hudd dies aged 83

Comedian and actor Roy Hudd has died at the age of 83.

Hudd, born in Croydon in south London, was an authority on the history of music hall entertainment.

A statement from his agent said: "We are sad to announce the passing of the much-loved and amazingly talented Roy Hudd OBE.

"After a short illness, Roy passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Sunday the 15th of March, with his wife Debbie at his side.

"The family would ask you to respect their privacy at this very sad time."

Hudd made his professional debut as a comedian in 1957 at the Streatham Hill Theatre.

In 1958, he joined the Redcoats at Butlin's Clacton and worked alongside Sir Cliff Richard and Dave Allen.

Across a varied career he appeared in Call The Midwife, Midsomer Murders and Holby City.

In 2017 he appeared in ITV's Broadchurch and in 2019 made an appearance as a patient in the BBC's Casualty.

Hudd wrote several books on music hall, re-recorded and restored old music hall records, and appeared in a revival show called The Good Old Days.

He was the longstanding president of the British Music Hall Society, and chose the genre as his specialist subject when he appeared on Celebrity Mastermind in 2014.