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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-EastEnders star Mike Reid dies | Ex-EastEnders star Mike Reid dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former EastEnders actor Mike Reid has died at the age of 67 after suffering a suspected heart attack, his agent said. | Former EastEnders actor Mike Reid has died at the age of 67 after suffering a suspected heart attack, his agent said. |
| The actor, who played Frank Butcher in the BBC soap, was living in Spain at the time of his death. | The actor, who played Frank Butcher in the BBC soap, was living in Spain at the time of his death. |
| Mr Reid started his career as a stand-up comedian before working as a stunt driver. He went on to work in TV shows including Doctor Who and Minder. | |
| His agent David Hahn told the BBC that Mr Reid had been feeling very well in the past few weeks. | His agent David Hahn told the BBC that Mr Reid had been feeling very well in the past few weeks. |
| He said: "Mike was in fine fettle form. In fact only a couple of weeks ago we were having dinner over here. | He said: "Mike was in fine fettle form. In fact only a couple of weeks ago we were having dinner over here. |
| Even now I'm sure he's laughing David HahnMike Reid's agent | |
| "Mike that particular day went to see his consultant and had a full medical - and they gave him a clean bill of health." | "Mike that particular day went to see his consultant and had a full medical - and they gave him a clean bill of health." |
| And Mr Hahn paid tribute to Mr Reid, who he described as "a very, very, very, funny" man. | And Mr Hahn paid tribute to Mr Reid, who he described as "a very, very, very, funny" man. |
| He said: "He would see the funny side of any situation, no matter how black it was. Even now I'm sure he's laughing." | He said: "He would see the funny side of any situation, no matter how black it was. Even now I'm sure he's laughing." |
| Close friend of the actor and fellow comedian Frank Carson told BBC News 24 it was "absolutely devastating". | Close friend of the actor and fellow comedian Frank Carson told BBC News 24 it was "absolutely devastating". |
| "We have just lost our friend Bernard Manning a fortnight ago. I just can't realise... this is devastating news," he said. | "We have just lost our friend Bernard Manning a fortnight ago. I just can't realise... this is devastating news," he said. |
| He said he had first met Mike around 30 years ago when they were both working as comedians. | He said he had first met Mike around 30 years ago when they were both working as comedians. |
| Popular character | |
| "This is horrendous news. "Everyone in showbusiness will be shocked because this was one of the great friends of anything you wanted to do in showbusiness," he added. | "This is horrendous news. "Everyone in showbusiness will be shocked because this was one of the great friends of anything you wanted to do in showbusiness," he added. |
| In the late 1970s Mr Reid hosted the ITV children's TV quiz show Runaround, remembered for its incomprehensible rules and the incongruity of him as presenter. | |
| He joined EastEnders in 1987, quickly turning Frank into one of the show's most popular characters. | |
| After taking a couple of lengthy breaks from the show he made his last appearance as Frank in December 2005 when his long-standing relationship with ex-wife Pat Evans finally came to an end. | |
| One of Albert Square's most memorable moments was when Frank, in a bid to win Pat back, turned up on her doorstep wearing nothing but a flashing dickie bow. |