Actor Robin Parkinson dies at 92

Robin Parkinson, who played Ernest Leclerc in 'Allo 'Allo!, has died at the age  92.

His family said he died peacefully with his wife and daughters by his side.

Parkinson joined 'Allo 'Allo in 1991, as the twin brother of Jack Haig’s character Roger Leclerc, the terrible master of disguise.  The role was originally played by Derek Royle, but his sudden death meant the character had to be re-cast for the seventh series. Haig also died between series six and seven and was written out.

Parkinson’s TV career also included roles in a string of comedies from the 1970s to the 2000s, including Dad’s Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Rising Terry and June, The Young Ones, The Kenny Everett Television Show, The Dick Emery Show, On The Buses, The Liver Birds and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

His last roles were in  The Peter Serafinowicz Show in 2007, while he reprised his ‘Allo ‘Allo! role for the West End stage version and tour of Australia in the 1990s.

And for a generation of children he was also known as the voice of children’s TV series Button Moon.

One of his daughters, Sarah, was a writer and performer who was a regular on Radio 4’s Week Ending. She was married to Paul Merton, until her death from breast cancer in 2009, aged 41.

Published: 11 May 2022