Sitcom star was 71

Are You Being Served? star John Inman has died at the age of 71.

He died at around 4am on Thursday in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, West London, after a long illness, his manager Phil Dale said in a statement.

‘John, through his character Mr Humphries was known and loved throughout the world,’ Dale said.

‘He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.

‘John was known for his comedy plays and farces which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA.’

Inman had been suffering from hepatitis A, which first landed him in an intensive care unit in 2001; and his illness forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London in 2004.

At the peak of the sitcom’s success, Inman was voted Funniest Man On Television by TV Times and was also named BBC TV's Personality Of The Year for 1976. However, his character, who made famous the catchphrase ‘I'm free!’, was often criticised as a crass homosexual parody.

Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard told Radio 4's Today programme: ‘John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I've ever worked with.

‘He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame and he was a very good all-round actor, really. He was a true professional."

Inman's partner of 36 years, Ron Lynch, is said to be left ‘devastated’ by his death. The pair entered into a civil partnership in 2005.

Bord Frederick John Inman in Preston on June 28, 1935, Inman had made on a couple of minor TV appearances before landing the role of Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries in 1972.

Published: 8 Mar 2007