Barry Howard, From 'Hi-de-Hi', Dies Aged 78

Hi-de-Hi! star Barry Howard has died aged 78, it was announced today.

The actor was best known for playing Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in the first seven series of the BBC sitcom.

Howard had been battling cancer, his agent, Sharry Clark has confirmed to the BBC.

Clark described the actor as "very talented" and said she would "miss him more than I can say".

Clark said: "The much loved actor Barry Howard, best known for his exquisitely supercilious Barry Stuart-Hargreaves, the champion ballroom dancer in BBC's hugely popular Hi-de-Hi, passed away today aged 78."

Howard had been suffering from blood cancer and had been ill for some time, Clark said.

The actor starred as the camp dance instructor in the summer camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi from 1980 to 1986.

In 1999 Howard played Count Zarkhov in BBC comedy You Rang, M'Lord?, sharing the screen with fellow Hi-de-Hi co-stars the late Paul Shane and Su Pollard.

Howard also appeared in 1994 series The House of Windsor as Danny Jackson.

The Hi-de-Hi star appeared in short film Open Casket in 2004, while a guest role in Doctor Who's Christmas special in 2009 is also among his credits.

The actor was born on July 9, 1937 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England as Barry Frederick Howard.