Credits include Morecambe and Wise

Comedy writer Mike Craig – who wrote or produced more than 1,200 shows – has died at the age of 75.

His credits include the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas special, for which he wrote the famous sketch in which newsreader Angela Rippon broke into a high-kicking dance number. That show was the only one of the duo’s BBC festive offerings not to have been written by Eddie Braben.

He also wrote for Harry Worth, Ken Dodd, Roy Castle, Jimmy Tarbuck, Bernie Clifton and Des O'Connor in the Seventies, before becoming a BBC comedy producer, working on radio shows for the Grumbleweeds and Ken Dodd.

His widow Susan, 62, wrote on her husband’s wesbite: ‘His last few days were spent with his family at his side, reading to him from his books, sharing old stories and singing his favourite songs.

‘Mike dedicated his life to making people happy and loved nothing more than to talk with people and share a laugh. Mike leaves a fantastic legacy and the number of people who continue to write to me on a daily basis, expressing their joy and thanks, are testament to that.’

In 2006, Craig was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease, a rare and incurable terminal illness which causes dementia. He died last week, and his funeral will take place next Tuesday.

He was born in Batley, Yorkshire, and started writing comedy in 1964, inspired by the shows he used to watch as a boy in the nearby Dewsbury Empire. Craig became an expert on what he called the ‘golden age' of comed, and in later years gave talks on the subject on cruise ships. He also wrote several books on the subject.

As well as his wife, he leaves two children, three stepchildren and five grandchildren.

Published: 5 Nov 2010