Tributes paid to comedy writer

Tributes have been paid to Two Doors Down creator Simon Carlyle, after he died at the age of 48.

The Ayr-born also wrote Changing Ends, the ITV series about Alan Carr growing up in the 1980s, with the comedian.

No cause of death has yet been revealed.

Carlyle's manager, Amanda Davis, said: ‘I am immensely sorry to confirm that Simon Carlyle has died at the age of 48.

‘Simon was a wonderful person and a major comedic talent. He was much respected across the industry both for the quality of his writing and for being a kind, funny, supportive and nurturing collaborator.’

Jon Petrie, director of comedy commissioning at the BBC, called Carlyle a ‘wonderful comedy talent’, adding: ‘His warm comic voice shone through these characters, garnering huge audience affection, and firmly establishing it as a long-lasting sitcom favourite.’

Josh Cole, head of comedy at BBC Studios Production added: ‘Simon was one of a kind, brilliantly funny company with an exquisitely clear eye and lightning quick comic reflexes. His passing is a profound loss to us personally and professionally, and more widely to comedy in the UK. We will miss him deeply.’

Carlyle wrote Glasgow-set Two Doors Down  as a one-off special in 2013 before it was commissioned as a BBC Scotland series in 2016.

Last year’s Christmas special moved to BBC One, attracting 2.8million viewers and a seventh series had been commissioned for the flagship channel.

Its stars include Elaine C. Smith, Joy McAvoy, Alex Norton, Arabella Weir, Jonathan Watson,  Kieran Hodgson and Graeme 'Grado' Stevely.

Published: 10 Aug 2023