Veteran actor Bernard Cribbins has died aged 93

29 comments
  1. The hotel inspector (not!) in Fawlty Towers, Station Master in The Railway Children, narrator of the Wombles,singer of “Right Said Fred” and Wilfred Mott in Dr Who (plus an entirely separate role in one of the Dr Who films of which we rarely speak!) to name but a few key roles. Played a big role in the childhood of many. Feeling sad about this one.

  2. “I’m not a violent man Mr Fawlty!” Such a brilliant character played to perfection by Cribbins. Spent a lot of my childhood watching him in various guises, from Fawlty Towers to Jackanory and The Water Babies the latter of which scared the living hell out of me. Also has a great turn in Hitchcock’s Frenzy. Really underrated actor and although he had a good innings, still a sad loss. RIP Bernard.

  3. Aw man, what sad news to start the day with. Wilfried was my favourite companion from the RTD era of Who, even if it was only for a couple of episodes.

  4. Ah, what a loss. Along with all his other credits, he has a special place in my memories for narrating a few stories in the Story Teller Christmas tapes in the early 80’s. A regular Christmas listen for me and my Mum back then.

    Sad day.

  5. Oh no! What a terrible loss, still I suppose he had a happy life and managed to play such a key role in children’s lives for generations. RIP to a legend.

  6. Thats sad. Loved this guy! But what a career. He has been involved in kids films and TV for the last 60 years. My dad watched him when he was little in the 60s, I watched him when I was little in the 80s. And my kids watch him still.

  7. His wife of 66 years Gillian passed away in October, it’s always so sad but beautiful in a way how couples go so soon after each other.

    A brilliant man that millions will miss.

  8. First time I saw him was in Fawlty Towers in a friggen hilarious episode….ok the hotel inspector one as they are ALL great.

    His name stood out when I saw the headline as I remembered him when he appeared in Doctor Who.

  9. This is one of those that really gets you, especially if you’re of a certain age. He’s just a bloke off the telly but reading the news this morning gave me that horrible stomach feeling. Gutted. RIP Bernard, a British TV legend.

  10. Rest in peace.

    I think (?) he was filming some scenes for the upcoming Doctor Who 60th anniversary. Hopefully those were completed and can stand as a list testament to his work.

  11. My mum used to tell me about a time when I was little and she took me to see a play Bernard Cribbins was in. I can’t remember what it was – perhaps Anything Goes.

    The main this was that my broke mum had somehow snagged free matinee tickets and took me along, despite it not being aimed a kids, because she couldn’t afford a babysitter but wanted to spend time somewhere other than home or the park.

    Our seats were close to the front. I spent most of the play drawing on the pad my mum had set me up with. But every time Bernard came on stage I found everything he did hilarious, laughing so hysterically from his first appearance that other people in the audience were noticing. My mum thought she was going to have to leave.

    Except, Bernard loved it. He started directing his performance at me, which only made me laugh more, and made the audience get in on the joke. When the cast came on for a bow, he bowed to me and waved.

    There’s little chance he realised that he saved a skint woman’s rare trip somewhere fancy, but he did. And he did because he clearly thought the theatre was a space children should be allowed to enjoy, and was delighted by the chance to make one laugh. I’ve always felt enormously grateful to Bernard for allowing my mum that day out. Travel well chap.

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