Geoffrey Hayes, host of television favourite Rainbow, dies of pneumonia

Geoffrey Hayes, who hosted long-running children’s programme Rainbow, has died at the age of 76.

The actor and TV presenter’s manager, Phil Dale, said: “It is with great sadness that the family announce that Geoffrey passed away from pneumonia in hospital with his wife, Sarah, and son, Tom, by his side.

“Geoffrey Hayes (born 13 March 1942) was an English television presenter and actor, best known as the host of Thames Television’s toprated children’s show Rainbow, and for his portrayal of 0 Geoffrey Hayes died in hospital of pneumonia

Detective Constable Scatliff in the successful TV series Z Cars for the BBC.

“The family would like to express their thanks to the many fans over the years as it always gave Geoffrey so much pleasure to know that he and his Rainbow team had given so much fun to TV and theatre audiences over the years.”

Hayes appeared alongside cuddly puppets Zippy, George and Bungle in more than 1,000 episodes of Rainbow from 1974 until 1992, having taken over from original host David Cook.

He once said the secret to the programme’s popularity was that it was full of “magic, innocence and imagination”. He said: “Practically all the time people come up to me and it really breaks me up because they thank me for being part of their childhood. It makes me want to cry sometimes.”