Beadle in hospital with pneumonia

Jeremy Beadle became ITV's most popular prankster in the 1980s

Television presenter and prankster Jeremy Beadle is seriously ill in hospital suffering from pneumonia.

He is on a respirator in a north London hospital where his condition is said to be "stable".

The 59-year-old became one of ITV's most popular presenters during the 1980s with hidden camera shows like Game For a Laugh and Beadle's About.

"He is being very well cared for and we wish him a full and speedy recovery," said his agent in a statement.

Beadle, who was born in Hackney, east London, had an operation to remove a cancerous kidney in 2004.

The following year he was diagnosed with a mild form of leukaemia following a blood test.

Charity

Beadle first found national fame in 1981 with Game for a Laugh, but he is best known for his series Beadle's About, first shown on ITV in 1987, which saw unwitting people fall prey to elaborate set-ups.

The show's host regularly turned up in disguise to spring the surprise on the victim of the plot.

He later became the host of You've Been Framed, which showed mishaps caught on video camera by viewers.

The host fell out of favour in the mid-90s, but he has continued to work for charity, raising £13m for organisations including the Foundation for Children with Leukaemia.

The star was appointed MBE in 2001 for his charity work.