The veteran English comedy writer and broadcasting personality, Frank Muir, died yesterday after celebrating 50 years as one of Britain's favourite funnymen. He was aged 77.
He died in bed - hours after watching Forrest Gump on television, and commending the script, his wife said. Frank Muir's death came just three months after he published his memoirs, A Kentish Lad, packed with anecdotes about his career in radio and television. He began scriptwriting during service in the second World War when he became involved with troops broadcasting. Soon afterwards he had success with the BBC radio comedy series, Take It From Here.
His co-writer on that and many more shows, Denis Norden, said the death of the man famous for his pink bow-tie and mellifluous voice had come as a shock.
"He was like a brother to me," he said. Frank Muir is remembered by most people for his beguiling charm and distinctive voice as a panellist on radio shows like Call My Bluff or My Word.
But he preferred to be remembered for his work as a scriptwriter, for many years in one of the best-known writing partnerships with Denis Norden.
The two were introduced in 1947, and were soon writing Take It From Here, most celebrated for its sketches about the Glum family, starring June Whitfield, Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley.
The 6ft 5in writer was born in Ramsgate on February 5th, 1920. He joined the RAF a year after war broke out.
The new series of Take It From Here continued until 1958, when Wack-O! - starring Jimmy Edwards - started on television.
The partnership with Denis Norden ended in 1964, but the two men continued to work together while pursuing separate careers.
Frank Muir became an assistant head of light entertainment for the BBC, and then briefly head of entertainment for the newly-formed London Weekend Television in 1969, before returning to freelance writing.
He and Denis Norden had been on My Word since it began in 1956, and My Music from 1967. Call My Bluff started on television in 1970. Dozens of books followed.