Actor Roy Barraclough MBE has died today at the age of 81 after a "short illness".

Latterly better known for a long stint in soap opera Coronation Street from the mid 1980s, he was also a comedy favourite and long-term on-screen partner of Les Dawson.

He was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to drama and charity, and died at Manchester's Willow Wood Hospice, of which he was patron.

Barraclough appeared alongside the likes of John Cleese as regular support in Les Dawson's long-running Yorkshire Television sketch show, Sez Les. He is perhaps most fondly remembered by comedy fans for playing the gossiping housewife characters Cissie and Ada, with Dawson.

The actor was most recently seen on screen late last Summer, when he played the role of Mr Grainger in a one-off revival episode of classic sitcom Are You Being Served?.

Amongst his many other comedy roles, Barraclough was seen alongside Leonard Rossiter in both Rising Damp and the Galton & Simpson comedy I Tell You It's Burt Reynolds, and more recently appeared in the dialogue-free Pompidou, and comedy drama Last Tango In Halifax.

Roy Barraclough also had guest roles in programmes such as Nearest And Dearest, George & Mildred, Queenie's Castle, Dr. Willoughby, Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width, Revolver and The Lovers.

He also starred in Mother's Ruin and Pardon My Genie.

In 2005 he played the Mayor of Blackpool in comedy-thriller Funland, and he had continued his partnership with Les Dawson through programmes such as Dawson's Electric Cinema, Dawson And Friends, The Les Dawson Show, and Dawsons Weekly.

Show your appreciation for Barraclough's comedy career...