Ventriloquist Ray Alan dies at 79

Alan, 79, was a TV regular for decades, clocking up appearances on variety shows, as well as having his own children's series, Tich And Quackers.

It is thought he stopped breathing overnight after complaining of feeling unwell at his home in Reigate, Surrey.

Agent Peter Pritchard said: "He passed away very suddenly."

Alan had not worked for the past few months because of ill- health, and old age had made it difficult to manipulate the puppet.

His last stage appearance was in November 2008 at a charity concert in Bridlington.

He was a notable guest on game shows such as Celebrity Squares, Give Us A Clue and Yorkshire Television's 3-2-1, as well as appearing in programmes such as Sunday Night At The London Palladium.

Alan was also among the stars who performed at a TV celebration for legendary comic and actor Bob Hope's 82nd birthday.

Mr Pritchard, who worked with him for 30 years, said: "Technically he was regarded as Britain's top ventriloquist. You just couldn't see his mouth moving.

"He was tremendously well-liked in the business and he had been in the entertainment business all his life."

Alan was born in Greenwich and raised in south east London and was a "call boy" at the Lewisham Hippodrome theatre, leaving school at 14.

His act originally involved impressions and conjuring tricks and he developed his ventriloquy after pretending there were voices coming from a box on stage.

His first official show as a ventriloquist came when he was 19.

The monocled Lord Charles was inspired by a boozy toff whom Alan spotted at a table during a cabaret show. And he later based the puppet's face on Stan Laurel.

He once recalled: "I looked at Stan Laurel's face and I thought 'Good God, that's the face I want - just change the hair and put a monocle on it'.

"So I played around with some photographs of Stan and found the face, went to the man (who made his ventriloquist dolls) and showed him what I wanted and he made me Lord Charles."

The character was noted for his catchphrase "You silly arse" and would often be distracted by any glamorous women in the audience.

Other characters included Ali Cat who featured in 1970s children's show Magic Circle.

Alan - who once appeared on the bill with Laurel and Hardy during a tour - has also worked as a writer, including Channel 4 documentary A Gottle Of Geer and the ITV show And There's More, starring comic Jimmy Cricket.

Earlier this year the star - who is survived by his wife Jane - published his third crime novel, A Fear Of Vengeance.