Mike Yarwood, the television comedian and renowned impersonator, has died in hospital aged 82, the Royal Variety Charity has announced.
The entertainer was one of the biggest TV stars of the 1960s and 70s with hit BBC shows, famous for his impressions of former prime ministers Harold Wilson and Ted Heath, Prince Charles and the late football manager Brian Clough.
The Mike Yarwood Show in 1977 had one of the largest single Christmas Day audiences ever for a British TV programme, at 21.4 million viewers.
The Royal Variety Charity said it was deeply saddened to announce his death, saying: “He leaves behind an immeasurable void in the entertainment industry.”
It added: “Mike Yarwood quickly rose to prominence for his exceptional ability to mimic the voices and mannerisms of countless celebrities and public figures.
“His talent for impersonation brought smiles to the faces of millions and his unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects made him an icon in the comedy world.
“Throughout his career, Mike graced television screens nationwide, becoming a household name in the 1960s and 1970s.
“His variety shows, including The Mike Yarwood Show, and Mike Yarwood In Persons, captivated audiences and showcased his uncanny talent for mimicry on prime-time television for two decades.
“Mike’s family have asked that their privacy be respected during this sad and difficult time.”
Yarwood was born on 14 June 1941 in Bredbury, Greater Manchester, and was a lifelong supporter of Stockport County football club.
He spent his later years at the Royal Variety Charity’s Brinsworth House, in Twickenham, south-west London.
“If I see somebody become famous, and they’ve got tremendously predominant mannerisms and they speak a certain way which is unusual, I go for it right away,” Yarwood once said of the public figures he mimicked.
He said he was just six when he did his first impression, stuffing a cushion up his jumper and putting on a pair of glasses to impersonate Billy Bunter.
The BBC director-general, Tim Davie, said: “Mike Yarwood was simply one of the greats. Part of the golden generation of entertainers that defined television for decades.
“From Harold Wilson to Frank Spencer, his legendary impressions were always pin sharp, warm and funny. We will remember them all with a smile.
“He was rightly one of Britain’s most loved performers and will be hugely missed. Our thoughts are with his family.”
The Television comedian Kate Robbins posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “So sad to hear the great Mike Yarwood has died. I was lucky enough to work with him in the 80s. The guv’nor of impressionists.
“When I was Sarah Brightman to his Cliff Richard we could hardly get anything done for laughing so much. Thanks, Mike. You were always a star to me.”
Emma Freud, a BBC broadcaster, thanked the impersonator for giving her the opportunity to be part of his shows as Diana, Princess of Wales.
“Goodbye Mr Mike Yarwood,” she wrote on X. “Thank you for casting me in your shows as Princess Diana. Still incomprehensible to me that it happened but you were lovely to work with.”
Stuart Antony, an actor, paid tribute and wrote on X: “Saddened to hear that the legend Mike Yarwood has passed away. His impressions were beyond perfection … but he was just the nicest man with a wealth of stories – RIP Mike Yarwood.”
The LBC presenter Iain Dale described Yarwood as “a titan of comedy” and one of the “biggest stars of TV comedy” in the 1970s.
He tweeted: “Today we’ve lost a titan of comedy, Mike Yarwood was one of the biggest stars of TV comedy in the 1970s.
“He was the impressionist’s impressionist and blazed the trail for those that followed in his wake, yet he was sometimes underappreciated.”