Ray Brooks, British actor and voice of Mr Benn, dies aged 86

The EastEnders and Cathy Come Home actor had been diagnosed with dementia, his family revealed

Ray Brooks, the British actor who starred in EastEnders, Ken Loach’s drama Cathy Come Home and narrated the 1970s children’s TV show Mr Benn, has died at the age of 86.

Brooks died peacefully on Saturday with his loved ones at his bedside after a short illness, according to a statement shared by his family with the BBC.

The statement also revealed that Brooks had spent the last few years living with dementia.

Brooks’ sons, Will and Tom, said: “His three true loves were family (he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003), Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born.”