Actor Derek Fowlds, best known for his roles as Bernard Woolley in comedy classic Yes, Minister and Oscar Blaketon in Sunday night staple Heartbeat, has died at the age of 82.
The Press Association reports that the screen veteran passed away at Royal United Hospitals Bath after suffering from pneumonia that led to heart failure caused by sepsis. His family were at his bedside.
Helen Bennett, his personal assistant and friend, told the Press Association: "He was the most beloved man to everybody who ever met him, he never had a bad word to say about anybody and he was so well respected, adored by everyone.
"You couldn't have met a nicer person ever, he was just a wonderful man and I will miss him terribly."
Fowlds also starred in the Yes Minister sequel, Yes, Prime Minister and was known to a generation of younger viewers for his role as Mr Derek on The Basil Brush Show from 1969 to 1973.
Among his many other screen credits were Doctors, The Royal, Inspector Morse, Minder and Z Cars.
