The Likely Lads star Rodney Bewes has died at the age of 79, it has been confirmed.

After a career spanning more than seven decades, he would have celebrated his 80th birthday next Monday.

The actor's agent, Michelle Braidman Associates, said in a post on Twitter: "It is with great sadness that we confirm that our dear client, the much loved actor Rodney Bewes, passed away this morning. Rodney was a true one off. We will miss his charm and ready wit."

The comic actor is best remembered for his role as Bob Ferris in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?, the much-loved sitcom by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, and its preceding series, The Likely Lads. He starred alongside James Bolam, who played Terry Collier.

The original incarnation of the comedy was the first ever sitcom shown on BBC Two, launching in 1964 and running for three series to 1966. The next two years saw two series of radio adaptations recorded. Its popularity was such that it was revived as Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? in 1973, running for two additional and even more successful, critically acclaimed series.

Whatever Happened received its own radio adaptation the following year, which will be released next month, and a feature film based on the adventures of Bob and best friend Terry Collier, was released in 1976.

In-between the two TV versions of the show, Bewes co-wrote and starred in four series of his own ITV sitcom, Dear Mother.... ....Love Albert. His last television comedy role was in early-200s sketch show Revolver, but Bewes had continued to tour and perform on stage in recent years, including at the Edinburgh Fringe in both 2015 and 2016.

He originally trained at RADA after spending two years of national service in the RAF. His other comedy credits include Father, Dear Father; The Wildcats Of St. Trinian's; Just Liz; Jabberwocky; San Ferry Ann; and the film of Billy Liar.

Bewes is survived by his four children, Daisy, Tom, Billy and Joe. Married twice, his second wife, Daphne, died in 2015.

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