`Hi-de-Hi' star dies of cancer

The actor Simon Cadell, star of the BBC comedy Hi-de-Hi, has died after a long struggle against cancer, his father-in-law said yesterday.

Cadell, 45, a father of two, discovered he had lymph cancer as he was recovering from a heart attack three years ago. David Croft, his father- in-law and Hi-de-Hi co-author, said that after a two-year struggle against the disease Callow died on Wednesday night. "A brilliant career tragically cut short."

Chris Pye, the BBC's head of entertainment group, said: "Simon Cadell was an extremely gifted actor, whose charm shone through every performance."

The actor's family were said to be "shattered" and Cadell's widow was too upset to speak to the media. Cadell was being treated for the cancer at the Harley Street Clinic in London.

As well as playing the upper-crust entertainments manager at Maplins holiday camp in Hi-de-Hi, Cadell's television career included two series of Enemy at the Door for LWT, three series of Life Without George and the comedy Blott on the Landscape. He appeared at the National Theatre and played many leading West End roles, includingTravels With My Aunt.

Cadell has finished a television film, Circle of Deceit, due to be shown at Easter. He had also recently worked withRichard E Grant on the film In the Cool Light of Day.

Obituary, page 14