Nicholas Smith, Are You Being Served? actor, dies at 81

NICHOLAS Smith, the actor who portrayed Mr Rumbold in BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, has died at the age of 81.

Nicholas Smith as Mr Rumbold in Are You Being Served? Picture: Contributed

Smith’s agent Rebecca Kirby said: “It is with great sadness we can confirm that Nicholas Smith passed away yesterday.

“He was a lovely man and a terrific actor. He will be much missed by all who knew him.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”

Smith died in hospital on Sunday, and was the last surviving member of the original cast of the department store comedy.

On air for over ten years, the sitcom also starred Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton and Wendy Richard.

Born in Banstead in Surrey in 1934, Smith played the role of Mr Cuthbert Rumbold, the jug-eared manager of the menswear and ladieswear departments of fictional London store Grace Brothers.

Prior to Are You Being Served?, Smith had roles in Doctor Who, The Saint, The Frost Report and The Avengers.

Smith played PC Jeff Yates in a number of episodes of Z Cars, alongside Brian Blessed, James Ellis, Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor.

Smith also voiced the character of Rev Clement Hedges, in the 2005 Wallace & Gromit film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

His daughter is Holby City actress Catherine Russell, who plays Serena Campbell in the hospital drama.