Nicholas Smith 1934-2015

Actor Nicholas Smith has died at the age of 81

 Nicholas Smith's first television appearance was as the camp leader Wells in 3 episodes of the 1964 story The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

 He had roles in many other UK drama series including The Saint, The Avengers, The Champions and Ace of Wands. He worked on radio, including an 18 month stint playing music and reading poems in a show called Poetry Corner. He played PC Yates in the police drama Z Cars. In 1979, he appeared in Worzel Gummidge alongside Jon Pertwee, playing Mr Foster, the headmaster of the school. In 2005 He played the Reverend Clement Hedges in the animated film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

 However he will be best remembered as playing the hapless manager, and holder of the key to the executive washroom, Cuthbert Rumbold, in the classic British comedy series Are You Being Served. Smith was in the entire run of the original series as well as appearing in the sequel Grace and Favour. 

Smith died in hospital on Sunday following a fall at home. His daughter is the actress Catherine Russell, who plays Serena Campbell in Holby City.