Comedy writer Jeremy Lloyd who penned classics 'Allo 'Allo and Are You Being Served? died without a penny to his name, probate office reveals

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Jeremy Lloyd (pictured) - the writer behind two of Britain's biggest ever sitcoms - left absolutely nothing in his estate, it has been revealed

Jeremy Lloyd - the writer behind two of Britain's biggest ever sitcoms who died last year - left absolutely nothing in his estate, it has been revealed.

The comic genius behind both Are You Being Served? and 'Allo 'Allo passed away on December 23 without a penny to his name - despite plans to leave what he did have to his wife Lizzie and former fiancee Charlotte Rampling.

According to the probate office, the 84-year-old left an estate with a gross value of £59,218.

However, that only covered all of his outstanding affairs, meaning he left behind nothing for his loved ones.

The much-loved writer - who married four times - was the brains behind many of the finest comedy moments in TV history, penning jokes for the likes of Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, and Lionel Blair.

However, it was when he wrote Are You Being Served? in 1972 that he gained national notoriety in his own right - before the follow on success of 'Allo 'Allo.

The son of an army officer and a dancer, Mr Lloyd was born in London but brought up in Manchester by his grandmother.

He regularly appeared on the hugely popular Billy Cotton Band Show playing what he described as 'an idiot in a bowler hat' and - more importantly - it was where he met Croft.

They teamed up on a short-lived sitcom It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes Darling, which starred his one-time wife Joanna Lumley, before working up an idea based on Lloyd's past experiences working at Simpsons of Piccadilly, which became Are You Being Served?, set in the fictional Grace Brothers store.

Its run spanned 13 years and attracted audiences of up to 22million. It became known for its catchphrase 'I’m free!; as well as Mrs Slocombe’s ongoing dramas with a high maintenance pussy cat.

They worked on further shows such as Come Back Mrs Noah and Oh Happy Band, then struck comedy gold again with 'Allo 'Allo! about the French Resistance, which lasted the best part of a decade. 

Writing about their marriage, which lasted less than a year, Lumley said: 'He was witty, tall and charming - we should have just had a raging affair.'

Mr Lloyd with his wife Lizzie Moberley, an interior designer, in 2008. The couple married in June last year

The much-loved writer - who married four times, including to Joanna Lumley (pictured together) was the brains behind many of the finest comedy moments in TV history, writing for the likes of Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, and Lionel Blair

His third marriage, to interior designer Lizzy Moberley, took place in central London last June.

He said his third bride, who was 49 when they tied the knot, was 'beautiful, clever and sent from heaven on mission impossible'.

He was previously due to marry actress Carole Ashby - who played Louise in Allo Allo - but they split in 1990 after a three-year engagement.

Lloyd was also briefly engaged to actress Charlotte Rampling, who later acted as his best man when he married Lizzie Moberley.

Lloyd was also behind an unlikely hit record in the shape of Captain Beaky which went into the top five in 1980. It was the most well-known hit from two albums produced by the band in 1977 and 1980.

The albums led to numerous spinoffs, including two books of poetry, a BBC television shows, a West End musical and a pantomime. The Captain Beaky poems were revived in an all-star tribute show at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, featuring Joanna Lumley. 

He was given an OBE for services to comedy in 2012. Accepting his OBE, Lloyd said he was 'astounded' to be honoured for doing something he enjoyed.

He said: 'It is, after all, what I love doing and couldn’t have done without the many wonderful actors, directors and others who made my work come to life.'