Suspected heart attack in Spain

Mike Reid, the stand-up who found fame as Frank Butcher in EastEnders has died at the age of 67.

Reid started his career as a comic on the old club circuit, and featured in the ITV show The Comedians. which turned many stand-ups of the day into familiar faces.

Reid cashed in owith a novelty hit record, a version of The Ugly Duckling.

In the late Seveties he hosted the ITV children's quiz Runaround, and joined the cast of EastEnders in 1987, making his final appearance in December 2005. But he continued to tour his stand-up act.

He was living in Spain at the time of his death.

His agent David Hahn told the BBC that his death came out of the blue: ‘Mike was in fine fettle form. In fact only a couple of weeks ago we were having dinner over here.

He said Reid was "a very, very, very, funny" man, adding: ‘He would see the funny side of any situation, no matter how black it was. Even now I'm sure he's laughing."

Fellow comic Frank Carson said the news was ‘devastating’, adding: ‘We have just lost our friend Bernard Manning a fortnight ago.

‘This is horrendous news. Everyone in showbusiness will be shocked.’

Here is Reid performing stand-up:

Published: 29 Jul 2007