British TV legend Ray Brooks, best known as voice of Mr Benn, dies aged 86

Ray Brooks, whose TV career spanned five decades, has died aged 86.

The actor was best known for narrating the 1970’s children’s show Mr Benn, but also had notable roles in Cathy Comes Home, Big Deal and Running Wild.

He also was one of just a handful of actors to appear in both Coronation Street and EastEnders.

In 1964 he played Norman Philips on the ITV soap, then 40 years later arrived in Albert Square, in which he played Joe Macer, who infamously murdered his wife Pauline Fowler.

Brooks died on Saturday after a short illness, his family told the BBC.

In a statement, his sons Will and Tom said their dad believed he was best known for Mr Benn, ‘with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase “as if by magic!”.’

The animated series followed the character who, after dressing up in a magical costume shop, would find himself experiencing a new adventure every episode.

‘Although only 13 episodes were made, they were repeated twice a year for 21 years,’ his sons added.

Other series Brooks appeared in throughout the 1960s and 1970s included Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, Emergency-Ward 10, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Z Cars.

He also appeared in films like The Knack… and How to Get It, Carry On Abroad and in the Dr Who movie Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.

Brooks rose to fame playing Reg in the BBC play Cathy Come Home, which detailed Britain’s housing shortage in the late 1960s.

Directed by Ken Loach and filmed in a documentary style, it followed a young couple facing homelessness and has been labelled one of the most influential TV broadcasts of all time.

But it was in the 1980s when his career took off after being cast in leading roles in two primetime series – Robbie Box in Big Deal and in Running Wild.

Throughout his career Brooks also voiced thousands of adverts for companies including Guinness, Whiskas, Marmite and R Whites Lemonade.

Despite decades on screen, the actor’s sons said he ‘shunned the limelight’.

‘His three true loves were family [he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003], Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born,’ they explained.

Brooks’ family revealed that he’d spent the past few years living with dementia but died peacefully yesterday with his family at his bedside.

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