RIP fella, another bit of 70's childhood disappears. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33914037
Me too. When he appeared at the Civic (can't remember which panto but one of the Nolan sisters was in it) I had to record some background off-stage dialogue and chorus with them. As you say, what a nice guy he was. RIP. She was nice and 'down to Earth-too'. Really easy to work with and no ego's.
It was the civic - met him afterwards and got his autograph - he opened my local in Liverpool as well . Think I remember him being a lot younger than the others in on the buses - Blakey is one of my all time favourite characters - played him well