Bernard Cribbins, star of Doctor Who and Jackanory, dies aged 93

Bernard Cribbins has died on the age of 93. The actor, comic and singer is maybe finest recognized lately for his recurring position in Physician Who alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate, however has been a daily function on our screens since his TV debut within the 1956 model of David Copperfield.

Cribbins, who was born in Oldham, appeared in quite a few movies – together with Keep it up Jack and Keep it up Columbus, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy. He first entered the Physician Who universe within the movie Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. alongside Peter Cushing in 1964, earlier than returning for the collection revival in 2007 as a special character, Wilfred Mott.

Cribbins can also be remembered by a technology of kids because the narrator of the Wombles, from 1973-75 – though the collection was endlessly repeated for many years afterwards which means its legacy far outlived its brief run. His dulcet tones meant he was an ideal match for the BBC’s storytelling present, Jackanory, on which he appeared extra occasions than every other reader, 114, between 1966 and 1991. He additionally appeared in 11 episodes of Coronation Avenue in 2003 as Wally Bannister.

Cribbins had two top-10 hits in 1962, with Gap within the Floor and Proper Stated Fred, the previous of which was picked by Noël Coward as one in all his Desert Island Discs, a lot to Cribbins’ delight. “I by no means met the gentleman,” he advised the Guardian in 2014. “However I used to be in a visitors jam in Parliament Sq. as soon as, and a limo pulled up alongside and he was sitting within the again seat, and I wished to get out and say it’s me, it’s Gap within the Floor.”

Bernard Cribbins
Sally Thomsett and Jenny Agutter with Bernard Cribbins within the 1970 movie model of The Railway Kids. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures

Cribbins acted on stage all through his profession, starting on the West Finish in 1956 on the Arts Theatre in A Comedy of Errors, taking in starring roles in Guys and Dolls on the Nationwide Theatre and quite a few pantomime performances. He was awarded the OBE in 2011 for companies to drama.

Russell T Davies, who labored with Cribbins on Physician Who, has paid tribute to him on Instagram. “I really like this man. I really like him. He liked being in Physician Who. He mentioned, ‘Kids are calling me grandad on the street!’ His first day was on location with Kylie Minogue, however all eyes, even Kylie’s, have been on Bernard.”

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The actor Elaine Web page, whoappeared alongside Cribbins in Davies’ BBC One adaptation of A Midsummer Night time’s Dream, mentioned “I’m so very unhappy. My pricey pal Bernard Cribbins has died. We met on Something Goes & stored our ‘Friendship’ for over 33 yrs. A really particular man of many skills. Humorous, type, real, at all times had a smile on his face & a quip. One of many good guys. I'll miss him so very a lot. RIP.”

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