Actor Derek Fowlds has died. He was 82.

Fowlds will be known to many as Bernard Woolley in classic BBC sitcoms Yes, Minister and its follow-up Yes, Prime Minister. He was also famous as one of the regular presenters who appeared on The Basil Brush Show, known to a generation as Mr Derek.

Basil Brush paid tribute to "Mr Derek" on Twitter: "I don’t know what to say, I’m so desperately sad. such times we had, rest in peace Mr Derek, my best friend forever #DerekFowlds#BasilBrushshow."

He added later: "Thank you everyone for all your very kind messages, I spoke to Mr Derek’s partner Miss Helen yesterday and she summed him up in 5 words....”He was a special man”.

Fowlds also appeared regularly in ITV1 drama Heartbeat and in other series including Minder and Firm Friends. He also appeared in a number of films including Frankenstein Created Woman alongside Peter Cushing.

His family said that he died in Bath after complications following pneumonia. 

Buy Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister here.

Watch a clip of Derek Fowlds with Basil Brush below.