Doctor Who’s Russell T Davies pays tribute to Bernard Cribbins after he dies aged 93

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Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies has led tributes to actor Bernard Cribbins following his death aged 93.

The actor played the role of companion Tom Campbell in 1966’s Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD, before returning for the revived show as Wilfred Mott – he is also due to appear once again as the character in the show’s 60th anniversary.

Cribbins also had roles in The Railway Children, Jackanory and Fawlty Towers over the years, and was also a singer known for novelty songs such as ‘Right Said Fred’ and ‘The Hole in the Ground’.

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“His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60s song Right Said Fred, a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles,” a statement said.

“He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat. He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.

“Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”

Paying tribute to Cribbins, returning Doctor Who showrunner Davies posted a lighthearted picture of the star with his head poking through a fake stage wall.

“Bernard Cribbins (1928-2022) I love this man. I love him,” he said. “That’s him as Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. D’you fancy doing some Shakespeare, Bernard? ‘Let me see the script.’

“He knew everyone! He’d talk about the Beatles and David Niven, and how he once sat on the stairs at a party impersonating bird calls with T H White. Then he’d add, ‘I said to Ashley Banjo last week…'”

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Davies said the star “loved being in Doctor Who”, recalling: “He said, ‘Children are calling me grandad in the street!’ His first day was on location with Kylie Minogue, but all eyes, even Kylie’s, were on Bernard. He’d turned up with a suitcase full of props, just in case, including a rubber chicken.

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“And what an actor. Oh, really though, what a wonderful actor. We once took him to the TV Choice Awards and sent him up on his own to collect the award, and the entire room stood up and cheered him. That’s a lovely memory. He’d phone up and say, ‘I’ve got an idea! What if I attack a Dalek with a paintball gun?!’ Okay, Bernard, in it went!

“He loved Gill with all his heart; he mentioned her in every conversation we ever had. A love story for the ages. I’m so lucky to have known him. Thanks for everything, my old soldier. A legend has left the world.”

Fellow Doctor Who alum Mark Gatiss retweeted Davies’ post, adding on Twitter: “There was no one quite like Cribbins. A gifted comic actor with an incredible seam of pathos and real heart.

“From Sellers to Star Turn, Wombles to Wilf. I once gushed to him about his lovely performance in Hammer’s ‘She’. That afternoon he was off to play 5-a-side – aged almost 90”.

The official Doctor Who account said: “We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Bernard Cribbins. Known best to Doctor Who fans as the Doctor’s friend and Donna’s grandad Wilfred Mott, Bernard leaves behind a long legacy in film and TV.”

Many more have paid tribute below:

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