'One of a kind' Michael White was 80

Michael White, who produced The Rocky Horror Picture Show film and Monty Python and the Holy Grail has died at the age of 80.

His former girlfriend Lyndall Hobbs said he died of heart failure in California.

'Michael had an appetite for life that was unmatched in my opinion,' she told the BBC. 'A unique man who put on hundreds of shows and truly was a theatrical pioneer.'

Glasgow-born White also worked with Peter Richardson to get The Comic Strip off the ground in the early days of alternative comedy, first as a club in a strip bar, and then executive producing the Channel 4 series.

He also appeared in the episode Eddie Monsoon – A Life?, playing the producer of Adrian Edmondson's obscene TV show.

Among those paying tribute today was Eric Idle, who said: 'R.I.P. Michael White, Producer of Holy Grail. Rocky Horror, Pass The Butler etc. Chalky was one of a kind and will be missed.'

And former Sky comedy chief Lucy Lumsden, who started her career on the Comic Strip, tweeted: 'Lovely man, backed The Comic Strip, my first tv home. RIP.'

White's career was recently the subject of the documentary The Last Impresario which featured contributions from the likes of John Cleese.

Published: 9 Mar 2016