Ventriloquist Ray Alan Dies

The ventriloquist Ray Alan has died at home aged 79.

Mr Alan's agent Peter Pritchard said he passed away suddenly in the early hours of this morning.

It is thought he stopped breathing overnight after complaining of feeling unwell at his home in Surrey.

Mr Alan was a regular on tv shows between the 50's and the 80s' but he was best known for his snobby, monacle -wearing puppet "Lord Charles" who appeared on his children's television show Tich and Quackers.

Lord Charles became famous for his catchphrase "you silly arse" and for being easily distracted by glamorous women.

The puppet's features were based on the face of silent movie comic Stan Laurel who he toured with in 1954.

Alan's other famous characters included Ali Cat who featured in the 1970s children's show Magic Circle.

Mr Alan's agent Peter Pritchard said: "Technically he was regarded as Britain's top ventriloquist. You just couldn't see his mouth moving.

"He was tremendously well-liked in the business and he had been in the entertainment business all his life."

Alan is survived by his wife Jane.