Only weeks after completing filming on his Doctor Who return, it was sadly announced that British TV and movie legend Bernard Cribbins has died at the age of 93. Having been born into a family on the verge of poverty in 1928 in the northwest of England, Cribbins had his first experience in the entertainment industry as a stage manager, but over the seven decades following the actor found himself staring in hundreds of beloved movies and TV shows.
Known to an older generation for starring in the Carry On movies, appearing in classic TV comedies like Fawlty Towers and being the narrator on children’s show The Wombles, Cribbins worked alongside some of the greatest actors of his time including Peter Sellers, Peter Cushing, David Niven and Woody Allen. However, his range was much greater than many other stars, as could be seen from the outpouring of love shown for him on social media from celebrities from the world of film, TV, children’s entertainment, music and more. In recent years, he has become known as a lovable grandfather figure to many young children after appearing in the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat, and in Doctor Who as Wilfred Mott.
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Having just completed filming on at least one new episode of Doctor Who, which Cribbins has returned to along with David Tennant and Catherine Tate after almost two decades, it was not surprising that the many tributes were led by returning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies. In a lengthy post, Davies reminisced about the actor, saying:
“I love this man. I love him. That’s him as Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. D’you fancy doing some Shakespeare, Bernard? “Let me see the script.” He knew everyone! He’d talk about the Beatles and David Niven, and how he once sat on the stairs at a party impersonating bird calls with T H White. Then he’d add, ‘I said to Ashley Banjo last week…’ He loved being in Doctor Who. He said, ‘Children are calling me grandad in the street!’ His first day was on location with Kylie Minogue, but all eyes, even Kylie’s, were on Bernard. He’d turned up with a suitcase full of props, just in case, including a rubber chicken. And what an actor. Oh, really though, what a wonderful actor. We once took him to the TV Choice Awards and sent him up on his own to collect the award, and the entire room stood up and cheered him. That’s a lovely memory. He’d phone up and say, ‘I’ve got an idea! What if I attack a Dalek with a paintball gun?!’ Okay, Bernard, in it went! He loved Gill with all his heart; he mentioned her in every conversation we ever had. A love story for the ages. I’m so lucky to have known him. Thanks for everything, my old soldier. A legend has left the world.”
Bernard Cribbins Was Remembered by Many on Social Media
It is impossible to remain in the entertainment industry for around seventy years without making a lot of friends along the way and very few enemies. Bernard Cribbins’ passing led to a host of comments and tributes being shared by those who have worked with him in some capacity, from his peers, to those who simply knew his body of work. We join them in celebrating a legend, and sending condolences to family and friends at this time. Below are just some of the words shared on social media today.
