Comedian Corrie star and music hall aficionado

Comedian Roy Hudd died yesterday at the age of 83.

The entertainer and music hall expert fronted Radio 2's The News Huddlines for 26 years from 1975 until 2001  and also starred in Coronation Street as funeral director Archie Shuttleworth from 2002.

In a statement, his agent said: ‘We are sad to announce the passing of the much-loved and amazingly talented Roy Hudd OBE.

‘After a short illness, Roy passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Sunday the 15th of March, with his wife Debbie at his side.

‘The family would ask you to respect their privacy at this very sad time.’

Among those paying tribute this morning was Veep and Avenue 5 writer Simon Backwell, who tweeted: ‘Very sad indeed to hear that Roy Hudd has died. A really lovely bloke, a great comedian, excellent straight actor. And a comedy historian too. I got my start in comedy writing via his Radio 2 show The News Huddlines. He was a total joy to write for. All good wishes to his family.’

The League Of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss added: 'Farewell to the wonderful Roy Hudd. A great comic and actor. One of those joyous people who feel like they’ve been with us forever. He was in a ‘Randall & Hopkirk’ I wrote with @dysonjeremy and improvised the band’s sign off as "Jock Strap and his Two Swingers there!" RIP Maestro'

And actress Kathy Burke posted: 'Very sad news. Had the pleasure of working with Roy in the 90's on Common As Muck. Beautiful, funny and very talented man. RIP.

Born in Croydon in 1936, Hudd made his solo debut on radio in 1959 on Workers' Playtime.  and broke into TV on the BBC's Not So Much A Programme, More A Way of Life, which also featured David Frost, William Rushton, John Bird, Michael Crawford and Eleanor Bron.

He also co-wrote and played the part of Bud Flanagan in the musical Underneath the Arches and reprised the role in the  2015   BBC drama We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story, recreating the recording of the sitcom’s famous theme tune.

Other stage credits include starring as Fagin in the 1977 West End revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver! 

In 2017, he pulled out of a stage version of Waiting For God, on doctors’ orders. But as recently as last year, he toured  in a production of Oscar Wilde’s play A Woman of No Importance alongside Liza Goddard and Isla Blair.

Hudd was awarded an OBE in 2003.

He was also president of the British Music Hall Society, having written several books on the topic, re-recorded music hall records and appeared in the music hall revival show The Good Old Days. Earlier this year it was reported that he would be donating his memorabilia archive of more than 20,000 song sheets and posters to the University of Kent.

His many radio credits include playing Max Quordlepleen, the host at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, in the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Here's Hudd speaking at The Oldie lunch in 2009, introduced by Barry Cryer:

Published: 16 Mar 2020