Yahoo News 'Rainbow' presenter Geoffrey Hayes dies at 76
Geoffrey Hayes, actor and presenter of iconic kid’s TV show Rainbow, has died at the age of 76.
In a statement, his manager Phil Dale said: “It is with great sadness that the family announce that Geoffrey passed away in hospital with his wife, Sarah, and son, Tom, by his side.
“Geoffrey Hayes (born 13 March 1942) was an English television presenter and actor, best known as the host of Thames Television’s top-rated children’s show Rainbow, and for his portrayal of Detective Constable Scatliff in the successful TV Series Z Cars for the BBC.
“The family would like to express their thanks to the many fans over the years as it always gave Geoffrey so much pleasure to know that he and his Rainbow team had given so much fun to TV and theatre audiences over the years.
“There will be no further comment at the moment and it would be appreciated if the privacy of Geoffrey’s family is respected at this most difficult time.”
Born in Stockport, he hosted Rainbow from 1974 to 1992, in over a thousand episodes, replacing the show’s original presenter David Cook, alongside puppet characters Zippy, Bungle and George.
However, he struggled to find further acting work after the show ended, revealing that the job had lead to him being typecast.
Speaking about the show in 2002, he said: “Practically all the time people come up to me and it really breaks me up because they thank me for being part of their childhood. It makes me want to cry sometimes.”
Fans have already taken to Twitter to offer memories and condolences.
He certainly did paint my childhood with a rainbow. #RIP Geoffrey Hayes 🌈 pic.twitter.com/Emcze7aYIM
— Vintage Wullie (@YoorWullie) October 1, 2018
I hope he knew how loved he was. Bye bye childhood #geoffreyhayes
— sam bramwell (@bumfluffboo) October 1, 2018
This is so sad, another face from our childhood, Rainbow presenter Geoffrey Hayes has passed away.
Thanks for giving this 80s kid some great memories 😪 pic.twitter.com/eqnYwV3eJ9— 80s Kidz (@80s_Kidz) October 1, 2018
Very sad to hear that Geoffrey Hayes has passed away! 😢
Rainbow might not have been on BBC Children's but it was a classic piece of our childhood.
Paint the whole world with a rainbow 🌈 pic.twitter.com/jOb9Kxlsuv
— CBeebies Grown-Ups (@CBeebiesHQ) October 1, 2018
Genuinely heartbroken that Geoffrey Hayes has died, Rainbow was my religion. I met him after a live show in the early 1990s and he didn't need to be as nice as he was to a knackered, starstruck little boy. 2018.
— Darrell Maclaine (@emelius_browne) October 1, 2018
RIP Geoffrey Hayes. Everyone can see him smiling, over the sky.
— Matthew Rudd (@MatthewJRudd) October 1, 2018
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