The actor
Clive Swift has died at the age of 82.
Clive Swift appeared in two Doctor Who stories. In 1985 he appeared with Sixth Doctor
Colin Baker in the story
Revelation of the Daleks, playing Jobel, the chief embalmer of Tranquil Repose on Necros.
Swift returned to the series in 2007 appearing with
David Tennant in the Christmas special
Voyage of the Damned, as Bayldon Copper an employee aboard the Titanic.
Swift was best known for his role as
Richard Bucket in the British television comedy series
Keeping Up Appearances.
Clive Swift was born in Liverpool in 1936. After stydying English literature at Cambridge University he became a teacher at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In the 1960's he made his first apperance on British television appearing in
Theatre Night. He had regular roles in the BBC Comedy series
Dig This Rhubarb. Regular TV roles followed including playing Major Bagstock in
Dombey and Son, Inspector Waugh in
Thirty-Minute Theatre and Albert Benbow in
Clayhanger.
In 1982 he played Bishop Proudie in the BBC adaptation of of Anthony Trollope's
Barchester Chronicles.
Between 1990-1995 he starred in 42 episodes of the British sitcom,
Keeping Up Appearances playing Hyacinth Bucket's long-suffering husband, Richard. Written by
Roy Clarke and staring
Patricia Routledge the series has become the BBC's best selling series in its long history, seen around the world.
Later appearances included parts in
Midsomer Murders and
Peak Practice.
Thirteen million watched his apperance in Doctor Who in 2007 alongside singer
Kylie Minogue. To promote the story Swift did a famously grumpy interview with Doctor Who Magazine, berating the interviewer for his 'silly' questions.
Swift was married to novelist
Margaret Drabble between 1960 and 1975 and was father to daughter Rebecca, who died in April 2017. He is survied by his two sons.