ACTOR and TV presenter Nicholas Parsons has died at the age of 96 following a brief illness, his agent has confirmed.
Jean Diamond issued a statement on behalf of his family stating that the Just A Minute host had passed away in the early hours of this morning.
"He was with his beloved family who will miss him enormously and who wish to thank the wonderful staff at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital," she added.
The presenter studied engineering at Glasgow University and worked in the shipyards in Clydebank after leaving school.
Parsons was active well into his 90s and hosted an annual show, Happy Hour, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 19 years.
BBC Director-General Tony Hall said: "Very few people have done so much to entertain audiences over the decades, and no one deserves to be called a broadcasting legend more than Nicholas Parsons. His charm, inventive intellect and ability to create laughs were unsurpassed. Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him."
Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: "Nicholas Parsons was one of the greats, a first class broadcaster and an icon in the world of British comedy.
"Nicholas always brought his sharp wit, brilliant poise and warmth to everything he did - but particularly as host of Just a Minute where his excellence shone in each episode without hesitation, deviation or repetition.
"He was that rare beast - a presenter whose appeal spread right across the generations - and he was a unique member of the Radio 4 family. He will be greatly missed by us all, as well as the many, many listeners who he entertained so brilliantly."
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