Billy Bunter actor dies

Gerald Campion also appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

British actor Gerald Campion, who was best known as the rotund Billy Bunter, has died at the age of 81.

Campion had to wait until his 30s before he found fame, when he took the role of the greedy schoolboy character in the 1950s BBC series.

He starred in the series set in Greyfriars public school from 1953 until 1961, spanning 120 episodes, and was almost 40 years old when he stopped playing author Frank Richards's character.

He also appeared in a number of other British films and TV programmes, including Dr Who and Great Expectations.

Roles

A spokeswoman said: "It was due to heart problems, but I can't give any further information."

He also had roles in Carry On Sergeant, The Pickwick Papers, Half a Sixpence and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Campion set up his own showbiz club in London which attracted some of the biggest names in British entertainment, including Tony Hancock, Stanley Baker, Galton and Simpson, Graham Hill, Ron Grainer, and Wilfred Bramble.

He had been living with his second wife, Susan, in the south of France.