Celebrated sitcom writer known for On the Buses, Ronald Chesney

Ronald Chesney, who has died aged 97, was a celebrated British sitcom writer whose hits included On the Buses and The Rag Trade.

He and writing partner Ronnie Wolfe, who died in 2011, were responsible for so many TV comedies they were known as The Other Two Ronnies.

Mr Chesney was also an acclaimed harmonica player who performed with Duke Ellington among others.

Born Rene Cadier in London to French parents, he learned the piano as a child but was diverted by a toy mouth organ left in his Christmas stocking one year.

He left school at 16 to become a professional harmonica player, changing his name to Ronald Chesney and touring ABC cinemas to perform between films.

He and Wolfe met in 1955 when the latter began writing for Educating Archie, a radio show which featured Chesney and his “talking harmonica” as a novelty act.

After he stopped performing, Chesney and Wolfe began a prolific collaboration that saw them create a string of sitcoms for the BBC.

The Rag Trade, starring Reg Varney and Miriam Karlin, depicted the comic conflict between management and staff at a London garment factory and was famous for its catchphrase “Everybody out”.

Meet The Wife, starring Thora Hird and Freddie Frinton as a middle-aged married couple, was another popular success.

The BBC turned down the chance to make On the Buses, which eventually found a home at LWT and became one of the pair’s biggest hits.

Set in a bus garage in the fictional town of Luxton, the show spawned three spin-off feature films as well as a shortlived American remake.

It ran for 73 episodes and seven series between 1969-73 and regularly attracted up to 20 million viewers.

Mr Chesney is survived by his wife, Patricia, who he married in 1947, and their children, Marianne and Michael.

Picture: Phillips. Mr Chesney and his wife, Patricia.