Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Knutty’ star of Benidorm dies aged 71 on France hol
BENIDORM star Bobby Knutt has died on holiday in the South of France.
The 71-year-old comedian from Sheffield also played Albert Dingle in Emmerdale and was the voice of a Tetley tea advert.
Benidorm creator Derren Litten paid tribute to “wonderful” Knutt, who played Eddie Dawson.
Co-star Tony Maudsley tweeted: “Take a bow Grandad Dawson. Your Benidorm family will miss you. RIP Bobby Knutt x”.
FAMILY
The official Benidorm Twitter account remembered the actor, posting: “Benidorm star and Sheffield legend Bobby Knutt passes away aged 71. Good night Knutty, your Benidorm family loves you.”
Knutt, real name Robert Wass started in stand up, starring in The Comedians and The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club in the 1970s.
He landed one of his first big television roles in 1977 as the lead in the Ken Loach-directed BBC drama The Price of Coal.
On the small screen, the Yorkshireman also starred in Heartbeat and Last of the Summer Wine.
In the early 1980s, he landed a role in Coronation Street as garage owner Ron Sykes.
Knutt was married to the ex-great Britain Olympic bronze medallist Donna Hartley, until her death aged 58 in 2013.
MANKIND INITIATIVE