Advertisement

Allo Allo stars reunite for Gorden Kaye funeral

Stars of sitcom Allo Allo reunited in Huddersfield for the funeral of beloved actor Gorden Kaye, who passed away last month.

Speaking ahead of the service on Friday, his co-star Vicki Michelle said it felt "like the end of an era".

"But it's not because we're still going, but he was such a big part of our lives for such a long time," she added.

The actor, who played main character Rene Artois in the hit comedy Allo Allo, passed away aged 75 on 23 January.

Michelle, who played Yvette Carte-Blanche, called Kaye a "prankster", and said they shared "so many memories".

Kaye played the cafe owner throughout the 84 episodes of the BBC series, which ran between 1982 and 1992 - returning for a one-off special in 2007.

"The part was written for him and, to be honest it was perfect casting," producer Charles Garland said in the eulogy.

He called Kaye "a shy boy from Huddersfield", that was always hidden under the mantle of a "skilled actor and consummate professional".

"When something really tickled him he just had this incredible giggle. It was so infectious," said Kim Hartman who played Private Helga Geerhart in the sitcom.

He also starred in Coronation Street, playing Elsie Tanner's nephew Bernard Butler on the soap from 1969 to 1970, as well as roles in It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served.

"I haven't actually got to grips with the fact he's not here," said castmate Sue Hodge.

"I'm never ever going to forget him. He'll be with me forever."