20 August 2024 , 12:45
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It Ain’t Half Hot Mum star John Clegg, who was best known as Gunner Graham, has died, aged 90, with tributes pouring in for the BBC actor
Actor John Clegg, who was best known as La Di Da Gunner Graham, in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum star, has died, aged 90.
The veteran BBC actor starred in BBC sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and appeared in comedy Dad’s Army. The actor died peacefully in care and will be missed by all his friends from the theatre, his friends in Chichester and his family. He’s the husband of the late Mavis Pugh and brother of Anne and Mary, who are both deceased.
Clegg’s late wife Pugh – who died in 2006 – was also a sitcom star with both starring in 1988’s You Rang, M’Lord and 1972’s Are You Being Served?. Pugh also appeared in Fawlty Towers
A private funeral will be held on August 29th in Chichester, West Sussex. The news was announced on Tuesday via The Telegraph with Board Director at Elstree Studios Morris Bright later sharing the announcement.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: "We is very sorry indeed to hear that La Di Da Gunner Graham, actor John Clegg, has gone to that great concert party in the sky, aged 90. He certainly was one of the boys who entertained us."
The British Comedy Society posted on X: "We’re saddened to learn of the death of actor John Clegg, best known as It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’s Padrewski, Gunner Graham. He was 90."
Tributes from fans have poured in as one wrote: "Rest in peace lovely boy," while another added: "Mr lah di dah gunner Graham brilliantly played."
"Sorry to hear this news RIP #JohnClegg," a third said and another wrote: "Very sad news indeed that the Actor John Clegg sadly passed away RIP Sir."
Following his infamous role in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Clegg made several television and film appearances including Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served? and Bless This House. He also appeared as Clifford Howes in soap opera Crossroads in 1978.
A year later, the actor starred in BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure, playing foolish gentleman Froth. He also had a recurring role in the sitcom Your Rang, M’Lord?, in which he played Meldrum family solicitor, Mr Franklyn.
He also co-produced a one-man show with his wife, that achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival in the 1980s. One of the BBC stalwart’s most recent acting credits included in the 2001 film Bridget Jones’s Diary, where he played an unnamed elderly man.