Sadly the death has been announced of the actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne age 72. He died at his home in Ware, Hertfordshire. Sir Nigel who was born in Coventry moved to South Africa as a child with his parents. He made his stage debut there in 1950 in "The Shop at Sly Corner.". Coming back to Great Britain in 1951, he had a variety of roles in such productions as "Julius Caesar" (1972); "The Magistrate" (1986) and "Hapgood" (1989). He had his Broadway debut in 1974 in "As You Like It." He will be best remembered for his marvellous performances on television as Sir Humphrey Appleby in "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister." The film version of "The Madness of King George" (1994) earned him an Academy Award Nomination. He had been having chemotherapy for cancer for some time. Sadly missed and a fond farewell to a great actor and a true trouper. Give our regards to Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) in that great theatre in the sky on this sad Boxing Day.