Wayne Dobson, a beloved musician best known for his 80s TV series, Wayne Dobson – A Kind of Magic, has died after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The star marked his 68th birthday just two days before he died on July 7, with his family and friends announcing the sad news on social media.
Dobson’s brother, Phil Dobson, announced on Facebook: ‘It’s with a broken heart I share the news that my Brother Wayne Dobson sadly passed away today.
‘He was my best friend and I miss him already. RIP legend.’
Mike Sullivan, Dobson’s long-time business partner, also posted: ‘It is with a broken heart that my buddy, business partner & mentor Wayne Dobson passed away peacefully today at 12:03.
‘I will, of course, be adding more later, but for now.’
Dobson became the youngest ever member of the Leicester Magic Circle at the age of just 16, after developing an interest in magic when he was just a child.
He appeared on Blue Peter and performed semi-professionally as a magician when he was young, and at 21 became a full-time magician.
In the 80s, his fame found him performing as an opening act for the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey and Englebert Humperdinck and notably performed at the 1989 Royal Variety Performance.
In the 90s, he earned his own TV series called Wayne Dobson – A Kind of Magic. The series raked in millions of viewers every Saturday night.
In 1988, the star was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and became an advocate and ambassador for various charities supporting those with the disease.
MS prevented him from performing later in his career, but he continued working in magic as a lecturer and mentor to those in the industry.
His last TV appearance was in 2018 when he appeared in Channel 5’s Greatest TV Moments of the 1980s to discuss his Royal Variety Performance.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Per the NHS website, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It cannot currently be cured, but treatment can often help manage it.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- feeling extremely tired (fatigue)
- problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye pain
- numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body
- feeling off balance, dizzy or clumsy (uncoordinated)
- muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness
- needing to pee more often or not being able to control when you pee
- problems with memory or concentration
- sexual problems, including a dry vagina or erection problems
Symptoms may come (called “flare-ups” or “relapses”) and go (called “remissions”), and may get worse over time.
Dobson was married twice in his life. He married Karen Dobson in 1999, and the couple was together for several years, living together in Camberley in Surrey.
The couple later split, and Dobson went on to marry Marianne Gomma, who would become his carer as his illness progressed.
Marianne and Dobson divorced in 2016 after claims that Marianne had an affair with Dobson’s close friend Bobby Davro.
Dobson told The Mirror at the time: ‘The divorce has been one of the most stressful things to deal with because it just dragged on. But I am over it now and just focused on work.
‘I’ve not heard from Bobby for a long time, but it’s probably for the best. Marianne and I are over.
‘Magic has been my medicine. I don’t want a girlfriend. I feel most at home with magicians – they’re like my family.’
Fellow magician Shaun Ames paid tribute to the late star with a heartfelt post on Facebook: ‘Still trying to process the news that my dear friend Wayne Dobson passed away today.
‘Wayne wasn’t just a legendary magician — he was one of the funniest, sharpest, most generous people I’ve ever known. He made millions laugh on TV and inspired generations of magicians, but to me, he was just Wayne — my mate who always had a wicked sense of humour and time for a chat.
‘Our last message yesterday had him laughing so hard he literally pissed himself — and I say that with love because he would’ve been howling at that being the final punchline. that was our last moment, I’m beyond grateful it was full of laughter. We always laughed.
‘It’s been overwhelming seeing so much love pouring out for him today across Facebook. He touched so many lives — on stage and off.
‘Rest easy, Wayne. You were one of a kind, and I’ll miss you terribly.’
Keelan Leyser said: ‘I’m sad today. My friend and idol passed away. Going to really miss him. Wayne Dobson was a huge inspiration to me, as a child from the magic side but more importantly as an adult for not letting the most awful disease stop him from doing anything. Thank you for all the advice, the laughs and the magic.’
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