Are You Being Served?'s Frank Thornton dies

Are You Being Served? star Frank Thornton has died at the age of 92.

As well as he pompous Captain Peacock, which made his name, Thornton also joined the cast of Last of the Summer Wine in 1997, playing Herbert Truly Truelove.

He got into showbusiness during the war, and after demob remained in the RAF entertainment unit alongside the likes of Dick Emery, Peter Sellers and Tony Hancock.

He spent decades in small character roles before becoming the officious Captain Stephen Peacock in 1972. It ran for 69 episodes over 13 years, peaking with an audience of 22million people. He reprised the role in 1992 for the short-lived spinoff series based in a hotel, Grace & Favour.

His CV also includes Carry On Screaming, The Goodies and The Kenny Everett Television Show.

Thornton died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday and is survived by Beryl, his wife of 67 years, his daughter and three grandchildren.

Here he is in action:

Published: 18 Mar 2013