Carry On star David Kernan dies age 85 as fans pay tribute to TV legend

A statement read: "It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that dear David has passed away peacefully.

"In this time of such sadness, we shall think of the wonderful man he was, and the truly fantastic career that he had on stage, and on screen."

During 1972 he starred in British comedy Carry On Abroad and played Nicholas.

Kernan was known as an interpreter of the songs of Stephen Sondheim and also appeared in stage musicals and variety shows throughout the 1960s and '70s.

The Stephen Sondheim Society, which Kernan was a patron of, paid tribute to him.

Mandy Dixon, former chair of the society, wrote: “David was a lovely, witty, man whose singing and championship of Sondheim's work was second to none.

"In the many Sondheim workshops that the Society ran at the Theatre Museum in the late 1990s, he generously gave his expertise in performing Sondheim to young actors who are now household names.

“He also raised huge sums of money for AIDS charities by putting on one-night musical theatre reviews, at a time when this was not a popular cause.

“I think, though, that my best memory of him was of him and his leather-clad companion getting steadily drunker and merrier at a Sondheim celebration aftershow party.”

Fans also took to social media to share their condolences.

One person wrote: "Such a beautiful actor & singer. Did so much to promote the work of Sondheim back in the 70’s too. RIP."

Another said: "So sad to her that the talented #DavidKernan has passed away. He will be making sweet music with the fabulous #StephenSondheim & from #CarryOnAbroad to his musical theatre work Mr Kernan was a class act."

A third wrote: "He was great as Captain Charles Hammond in Upstairs Downstairs. May he RIP."