Hutchings leaves legacy of comedy roles

Benidorm star Geoffrey Hutchings has died suddenly at the age of 71.

The veteran character actor, who played sunbed tycoon Mel Harvey in the ITV1 comedy, died in hospital on Thursday morning, from a suspected viral infection.

He had just finished working on a new sitcom for BBC Two, Grandma's House, written by comic Simon Amstell and based on his childhood.

Hutchings credits also include appearing alongside John Cleese in the film Clockwise, and alongside Steve Coogan in the comedy drama Sunshine.

Rada-trained, he became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Sixties, and won an Olivier Award for best comedy performance in 1982 for his role in the stage comedy Poppy before moving into TV and film.

In 1998 he portrayed Sid James in the National Theatre’s Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle And Dick, a about James's off-screen affair with Barbara Windsor.

He was due to begin filming the next series of Benidorm soon. His agent Roger Charteris said: ‘He never stopped working.’

A spokesman for Tiger Aspect Productions, which makes both Benidorm and Grandma's House, said: ‘We are all incredibly sad to hear of Geoffrey's passing. He has been a major part of Tiger Aspect's comedy in recent years, and his unique talents will be hugely missed by everyone who knew and worked with him. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time .’

He is survived by second wife Andi and his three children.

Published: 3 Jul 2010