Video memories: Are You Being Served’s Mr Rumbold dies at 81

Actor Nicholas Smith, best known for playing Mr Cuthbert Rumbold in BBC comedy Are You Being Served?, has died aged 81.
Nicholas Smith, best known for playing Mr Cuthbert Rumbold in Are You Being Served?, who has died aged 81.Nicholas Smith, best known for playing Mr Cuthbert Rumbold in Are You Being Served?, who has died aged 81.
Nicholas Smith, best known for playing Mr Cuthbert Rumbold in Are You Being Served?, who has died aged 81.

“It is with great sadness we can confirm that our client, the actor Nicholas Smith, passed away yesterday,” said a statement from his agent, Michelle Braidman Associates.

It continued: “He was a lovely man and a terrific actor. He will be much missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family.”

The actor died in hospital on Sunday.

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His daughter is actress Catherine Russell, who plays Serena Campbell in Holby City.

Are You Being Served? first aired in 1972, with Smith as Mr Rumbold, the manager of fictional department store Grace Brothers.

Smith was a fixture on the show until its end in 1985, and was the last surviving member of the original cast.

Early notable TV appearances included a stint in a 1964 Doctor Who episode titled The Dalek Invasion Of Earth. He also appeared in shows such as The Saint and The Champions.

Nicholas Smith (top right) with fellow cast members on the set of Are You Being Served?Nicholas Smith (top right) with fellow cast members on the set of Are You Being Served?
Nicholas Smith (top right) with fellow cast members on the set of Are You Being Served?
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Are You Being Served? also starred the likes of Frank Thornton and former EastEnders star Wendy Richard.

Thornton died in 2013 aged 92 and Richard died after battling breast cancer in 2009.

Other members of the original cast included John Inman and Mollie Sugden, both of whom have also died.

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