Many tributes were paid yesterday to the actor, writer and raconteur Sir Peter Ustinov, who has died aged 82.
The Oscar-winning star died on Sunday night in Switzerland, his home for many decades.
His best-remembered screen role was as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in films such as Death On The Nile. But it was his gift for storytelling which made him such a well-loved star, delighting audiences around the world with his one-man stage show. Chat show host Michael Parkinson said he was one of his favourite interviewees. "He was quite obviously one of the greatest all-rounders of our time," he said.
"A very civilised and engaging human being, Peter was also a good writer and actor, a wonderful raconteur and, as such, God's gift to the talk show host."
British actress Jean Simmons, who starred alongside Sir Peter in Spartacus, for which he won one of his two Oscars, and who had remained a friend for more than 40 years, said: "I am absolutely devastated to hear of the death of one of our finest actors, and a very close personal friend.
"Peter was the only person for whom I would agree to be a guest on This Is Your Life, and it was a joy to be a part of that programme. I will miss his humour and friendship greatly."
Actress Jenny Agutter worked with Sir Peter on her first film, Logan's Run, in 1976. She said: "He was an extraordinarily wonderful person to work with. Logan's Run was my initiation into Hollywood and he was just gloriously fun and brilliant and witty.
"What I remember most about him was his generosity of spirit. He had a great sense of the good in people. He enjoyed the peculiarities that were part of humanity.
"He never took himself very seriously and he always had the best possible view of everyone."
David Suchet, who took over the role of Poirot and had also acted alongside Sir Peter, said he was "very saddened" to hear of his death.
"He was always generous, kind and very supportive. We have not only lost a very fine actor, but also a great wit, raconteur and personality," Suchet said.
Actor David Soul, who appeared with Sir Peter in Poirot film Appointment With Death, told BBC News 24: "Peter was one of those people you could sit and listen to forever. I'm just sorry he's not around so I can sit and listen to more stories."
The actor was knighted in 1990 but was happy to be known as plain Peter Ustinov. His agent Steve Kenis told Sky News: "He never took the billing of Sir Peter in any of the movies or TV that he did. He was always Peter Ustinov. And I think that's the way we should remember him."
For the past 12 years he had been Chancellor of Durham University. Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "The university has lost an outstanding friend and ambassador. He will be remembered with great affection and appreciation for the wisdom and humour and the generosity of spirit that he gave to the university."
While he had been failing for some time, Ustinov was not, apparently, tired of life. "It was not a surprise, he was pretty ill. He had had a busy life and he was tired," his son Igor said yesterday. "But he certainly was not ready to go."