Demon Headmaster star Terrence Hardiman dies aged 86

Terrence Hardiman has died aged 86.

The actor - who is best known for his lead role in CBBC children's show 'The Demon Headmaster' - has passed away this week.

His death was announced today (09.05.23) "with great sadness" by his agency Scott Marshall Partners.

They praised him as a "beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor".

The actor left a generation of children terrified with his chilling performance in 'The Demon Headmaster', which was based on Gillian Cross' books of the same name.

The character was known for his piercing green eyes kept hidden behind dark glasses, which were only removed when he hypnotised his victims.

Hardiman played the titular role across three seasons between 1996 and 1998, and later reprised the role with a cameo appearance in the 2019 reboot.

Previously speaking about the impact of the show, he said: "I started to be recognised in the street, especially as I lived near schools around here, in North-West London.

"And there were people – youngsters – looking at me, and shouting out at me, and making fun of me, which is very healthy. It stopped me being too grand!

"But then the slightly more remarkable thing, I found, was that it wasn't just children who were watching. It was parents and other people, too."

He appeared in the likes of 'Doctor Who', 'Wallander' and 'The Crown', having played Doctor Evans in the second season of the show.

He also starred as former prime minister Ramsay Macdonald in 1982's 'Gandi', and had a great reputation as a stage actor, having become a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s.

Throughout his career, Hardiman also appeared in shows like 'Bergerac', 'Minder', 'Crown Court' and 'Secret Army'.

In one of his final roles, he joined 'Holby City' in 2021.

Away from the screen, he narrated hundreds of autiobooks too, including series by Anne Perry, Ruth Rendell and Colin Dexter.

Hardmin is survived by his wife Rowena and his two children.