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| Mel Smith dies of a heart attack aged 60 | Mel Smith dies of a heart attack aged 60 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed. | Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed. |
| The British comedian - known for the sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O'clock News - died at his home on Friday, Michael Foster said. | The British comedian - known for the sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O'clock News - died at his home on Friday, Michael Foster said. |
| Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. | Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. |
| His producer John Lloyd described him as a great actor and wonderful editor. | His producer John Lloyd described him as a great actor and wonderful editor. |
| In a statement on behalf of his wife, Pam, Mr Foster said: "Mel Smith, comedian and writer, died on Friday aged 60, from a heart attack at his home in north west London." | In a statement on behalf of his wife, Pam, Mr Foster said: "Mel Smith, comedian and writer, died on Friday aged 60, from a heart attack at his home in north west London." |
| A London Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called just after 09:07 BST on Friday 19 July to an address in NW8 and sent two responders in cars, but sadly the patient was dead at the scene." | A London Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called just after 09:07 BST on Friday 19 July to an address in NW8 and sent two responders in cars, but sadly the patient was dead at the scene." |
| 'Contribution will never go away' | |
| Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Smith. | |
| Comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry wrote on Twitter: "Terrible news about my old friend Mel Smith, dead today from a heart attack. Mel lived a full life, but was kind, funny and wonderful to know." | |
| Author Kathy Lette said: "RIP Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep." | |
| Writer Irvine Welsh tweeted: "Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs." | Writer Irvine Welsh tweeted: "Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs." |
| Not the Nine O'clock News producer, Mr Lloyd, told the BBC his friend had been ill for some time. | Not the Nine O'clock News producer, Mr Lloyd, told the BBC his friend had been ill for some time. |
| He said: "Mel did an extraordinary thing - he taught us all how to make comedy natural. He was a brilliant theatre director... Not only was he a great actor, he was a wonderful editor." | |
| Talkback Productions went on to make a number of iconic comedies, among them Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partrdige and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. | |
| "What that did is produce a gigantic raft of new material," Mr Lloyd said. "That, I think, is a contribution that will never go away." | |
| The pair sold the company for £62m in 2000. | |
| Their business partner and agent at Talkback, ITV director of television Peter Fincham, described Smith's "extraordinary natural talent". | |
| "Life was always exciting around Mel," he said. "Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. Mel and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us." | |
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