Bernard Cribbins: Doctor Who and Wombles star dies aged 93

Doctor Who and Wombles actor Bernard Cribbins has died aged 93, his agent has confirmed.

During a career that spanned seven decades, Cribbins narrated the 1970s children's programme The Wombles, reports BBC.

He also played the Doctor's companion Tom Campbell in the 1966 film Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD returning 41 years later in the revived TV series.

Cribbins returned to the show as Wilfred Mott, the grandad of Catherine Tate's character Donna.

He played Wilfred from 2007 to 2010.

The actor was known by generations of children - he also played the station porter Albert Perks in 1970 film The Railway Children.

Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies led the tributes, posting a picture of him on set, while saying: "I'm so lucky to have known him. Thanks for everything, my old soldier. A legend has left the world."

Cribbins' agent higlighted the actor's "such diverse work", and said: "He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack's Boat."

"He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.

"Bernard's contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him."

As an actor, comedian, singer and raconteur, he tried his hand at everything, from Shakespeare to pantomime, Jackanory to Top of the Pops.

Born in Oldham in 1928, Cribbins left school at 13 and found work as an assistant stage manager at a local theatre club, taking on small acting roles before serving an apprenticeship at the Oldham Repertory Theatre.

The actor became well-known in the UK for having a string of successful novelty records in the 1960s such as Right Said Fred and The Hole in the Ground - a monologue which Noel Coward selected as one of his Desert Island Discs.

In the 1970s he landed some major big-screen roles, including playing barman Felix Forsythe in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.

In the popular sitcom Fawlty Towers, Cribbins appeared memorably as the ostentatious hotel guest and spoon salesman Mr Hutchinson, in the episode where frustrated owner Basil stresses out about a visit from the hotel inspectors.

Cribbins' voice was a fixture in UK living rooms, thanks to shows like Jackanory, which he frequently read stories on from 1966 to 1991- he holds the record as the reader of the most stories on the show.

He also performed the title role in the CBeebies series Old Jack's Boat from 2013 2015.

In a 2014 interview with the Guardian, Cribbins gave his thoughts on what made him such a renowned storyteller.

"Well, I think I'm a good actor, without being boastful," he said. "I have an array of voices. And intensity is a word you might use. Engage with that little figure on the other side of the lens."

At the age of nearly 90, he published an autobiography looking back on his years in show business in 2018. Its title was Bernard Who? 75 Years Of Doing Absolutely Everything - and its advice was simple.

"Do your best and be grateful for every single job".