Ian Lavender has died, just a fortnight short of his birthday. He was 77.

A television favourite, the actor's credits include a long period on soap EastEnders, but he is best known and most loved for playing Private Pike in the celebrated BBC wartime comedy Dad's Army.

One of just six in the sitcom's central ensemble across its nine series, he featured in all 84 episodes: eighty regular editions and four short specials. He reprised the role in 59 radio adaptations, as well as a feature film spin-off, and further sequel to the radio series, It Sticks Out Half A Mile.

His other comedy credits include Mr Big alongside Peter Jones, Come Back Mrs. Noah with Mollie Sugden, The Hello Goodbye Man, Parsley Sidings, feature films Adventures Of A Taxi Driver, Not Now, Comrade, The Hooligan Factory and Carry On Behind, and The Glums, with Jimmy Edwards.

Guest roles include appearances in Yes Minister, The Kenny Everett Television Show, Keeping Up Appearances, Goodnight Sweetheart, Harry Hill and Man About The House.

Born in Birmingham on 16th February 1946, he attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and joined Dad's Army for its debut in 1968. An enduringly popular hit, he has been associated with the series ever since. After a cancer scare in 1993 and heart attack in 2004 he is understood to have been ill for some time.

The last surviving main cast member of Dad's Army, he died in Suffolk on Friday 2nd February and leaves his second wife, Miki, and sons Sam and Daniel.