Porridge to Last Of The Summer Wine, Foggy Dies In His Sleep

Brian Wilde, the 80 year old actor best known for playing Foggy in Last of the Summer Wine and mild mannered, prison officer Mr Barrowclough, in Porridge has died.

The actor's son, Andrew Wilde, said his father died in the early hours of Thursday morning. Apparently Wilde suffered a fall around seven weeks ago and never fully recovered.

"He was shaky the last few days but nobody expected this. He went to bed and didn't wake up.’
Wilde's agent Nick Young said: "He will be sadly missed by family and colleagues alike.
"He brought a great deal of laughter into everyone's lives over the course of his career."

Wilde's Last of the Summer Wine co-star Peter Sallis said: "He was great fun to be with and to work with so I'm very, very sorry to hear the news."

Lancashire-born Wilde started his comedy career in the Sixties, supporting Tony Hancock in episodes of his 1963 ATV series followed by Room At The Bottom in 1966. He then started taking minor roles in films such as Carry On Doctor and The Jokers, both in 1967.

His first major TV success was in 1970 as depot manager Bloody Delilah, in the ITV sitcom The Dustbinmen, but Porridge was where he got his big break in 1973 playing the somewhat dopey prison officer who seemed to fall for Fletcher's antics every time.

He joined Last Of The Summer Wine in 1976, and left in 1985 because of ill health. He rallied and returned to the show after five years to quit for good in 1997.