Andy Cunningham, the creator of children's TV show Bodger and Badger, has died from cancer at the age of 67.
He also starred in the BBC show, in which he played handyman Simon Bodger and provided the voice for the beret-wearing badger that loved mashed potato.
Mr Cunningham died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Monday.
His sister Tessa said he "lived to be loved and to make people laugh, starting with me, his little sister".
'Funniest big brother'
Mr Cunningham, who read English at Cambridge, gave comedian Julian Clary his first job when he was writing and directing for the Covent Garden Community Theatre Group, and he worked as a puppeteer in the Star Wars film Return of the Jedi.
"He had a quicksilver brain, a rebellious attitude, boundless compassion particularly for the underdog, unstinting levels of generosity and, of course, a passion for mashed potato," Ms Cunningham said.
"I adored him and, long before he found fame, was immensely proud to have the funniest, cleverest big brother in the universe."

Mr Cunningham's former partner and close friend Jane Bassett was with him when he died, along with his sister and nieces.
Ms Bassett played Mousey in Bodger and Badger, which ran on the BBC from 1989 to 1999.
Tributes have been paid on Twitter to Mr Cunningham.
More news from Sussex here
Allo Allo and Emmerdale actress Vicki Michelle said: "RIP Andy Cunningham. Sad news. Such a legend on children's TV #bodgerandbadger."
DJ and presenter Paul Manners‏ said: "Rest In Peace legendary childhood icon Andy Cunningham. #BodgerAndBadger #CBBC #MashedPotato."
Singer songwriter Dean Boroczky from Worthing, West Sussex, who appeared on The Voice, wrote: "Aww RIP Andy Cunningham. Bodger and Badger was literally my childhood".
@ChrisW_Theatre tweeted the BBC "Lovely tribute from his sister", while Lesley Coutts said: "Loved this show x will be sadly missed xx RIP".

Sam Panopoulos, who has died aged 83, leaves a legacy that has delighted, confused and appalled diners worldwide. Often at the same time.
Panopoulos is the Canadian man who invented Hawaiian pizza, a dish so divisive it led to a presidential outburst this year.

Since his death last week, reports have trickled out about Adam West banging up to eight women a day in his prime. That might sound like a lot of work, but he was usually pretty lighthearted about it all.

Back in the show's heyday, both West and Frank Gorshin (who played the Riddler) turned up to a Hollywood party, only to discover it was actually an orgy.

They were drunk, found it amusing, so decided to stay - but they wanted to take part in the group sex in character.

So West got into his Batman voice and started quoting lines; the Riddler did the same. Until they both got thrown out for not taking it seriously enough.

 reds8n wrote:
.. via Popbitch

Since his death last week, reports have trickled out about Adam West banging up to eight women a day in his prime. That might sound like a lot of work, but he was usually pretty lighthearted about it all.

Back in the show's heyday, both West and Frank Gorshin (who played the Riddler) turned up to a Hollywood party, only to discover it was actually an orgy.

They were drunk, found it amusing, so decided to stay - but they wanted to take part in the group sex in character.

So West got into his Batman voice and started quoting lines; the Riddler did the same. Until they both got thrown out for not taking it seriously enough.

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
I heard that LA was going to light up a bat signal at their city hall in remembrance.

 Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
Sad news just shared by Bill Mumy, Stephen Furst died yesterday.

Children's presenter Brian Cant has died at the age of 83.
He was best known for presenting BBC's Play School for 21 years from 1964, and Play Away from 1971 to 1984.
His agent said he had been living with Parkinson's disease and died at Denville Hall, a retirement home often used by those in the entertainment industry.
A statement from the family said: "He lived courageously with Parkinson's disease for a long time."
Cant was also a guest presenter on Jackanory and appeared on ITV's Dappledown Farm, which ran from 1990 to 2003.
He got his big break when he auditioned for Play School, when part of the audition required him to climb into a cardboard box.
His voice was known to millions in shows such as Trumpton, his most famous line being the fire brigade call-out: "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub."

Brian Cant: A much loved part of childhood - by David Silitto, Arts correspondent
For millions his voice immediately evokes childhood.
In the early '60s - an audition in which he was asked to sit in a cardboard box led to a job on a new programme called Play School.
Born in Ipswich, he trained as a printer before having a go at acting.
The warm, friendly voice was perfect for another children's venture - Trumpton, Camberwick Green - and the slightly more industrial Chigley.
If it sounds as though it was recorded in a cupboard, it's because it was.
Along with Play Away, Bric a Brac and other programmes he was part of children's TV for more than 20 years.
He wrote and appeared on stage, but more than anything he was - for many - a much loved part of childhood.
Cant was honoured with a special Children's Bafta award in 2010.
In a BBC interview, he explained that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1999.
He said the one thing he wanted children to take away from his work was "that I made them laugh, I made them feel happy".
On receiving his Bafta, Cant said: "One of the main rules of those Play School days was that we should play to the camera as though we were talking to one child, in whatever circumstance.
"It could be somebody in a tower block, a nice semi-detached somewhere, or a Royal palace. You had to phrase everything so, whoever was watching it, they felt you were talking to them."

 Vaktathi wrote:

 Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
Sad news just shared by Bill Mumy, Stephen Furst died yesterday.

Babylon 5 appears to have been bad for the health of the cast. The entire main cast of TNG, DS9, Voy, ENT, and BSG are all still alive as far as I'm aware, but for Babylon 5...G'kar, Mr. Garibaldi, Dr. Franklin, Commander Sinclair, Zach Allen, and now Vir Cotto...