Glam Rock Star Alvin Stardust Dies Aged 72

Singer and actor Alvin Stardust has died at the age of 72 after a short illness, his manager has said.

The My Coo Ca Choo singer had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died at his West Sussex home with his wife, Julie Paton, and family around him.

He died weeks before his first album for 30 years was due to be released.

Announcing details of the record recently on his website, Stardust said: "I'm extremely delighted to announce that my new album is now finished and will be released at the beginning of November on Conehead Records.

"Alvin is a new and exciting departure for me and I'm immensely proud of the finished product and the amazing work of Richard Scott and Scott Ralph of Daftdog Productions in recording and producing it."

Stardust - real name Bernard Jewry - became a huge star during the 1970s glam rock era and featured in stage shows including Godspell and Phantom Of The Opera.

Hi TV credits included a Sunday morning children's show, It's Stardust, and more recent appearances in Hollyoaks, Doctors and Harry Hill's TV Burp - where he revisited his role in a well-known Green Cross Code road safety advert.

He was born in north London but grew up in Mansfield and had a handful of hits in the 1960s performing as Shane Fenton in the band Shane Fenton and the Fentones.

He created his Alvin Stardust persona with help from his record label boss Michael Levy - now better known as Labour peer Lord Levy.

His manager Andy Davies said: "Alvin and I had only started working together over the last couple of years because he and I believed that musically he still had a great deal to give and explore, and so we recorded an album that is a testament to an artist who gave his career to music.

"I may not have known him long but even in that short time he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I've ever met. His passing is a huge and sad loss."

Stardust had four children from three marriages, including to Bergerac actress Liza Goddard.

His son Adam Jewry is a successful music producer and DJ, known as Adam F.