The beloved actor Leslie Phillips has died away at the age of 98, it has been reported this afternoon.
Having enjoyed a long and varied career in entertainment stretching over 84 years, the veteran star of stage and screen passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Best known for his roles in Harry Potter as the voice of The Sorting Hat, as well as playing parts in a number of Carry On films, the comic actor starred in over 200 films during the course of his career.
His wife Zara told The Sun: "I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman.
"He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went."
The celebrated actor also has credits in several other TV series such as Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Monarch Of The Glen and Holby City, reports The Manc.
Other films he has had roles in include Empire Of The Sun, Scandal, and Out Of Africa.
Thanks to his roles in the Carry On film series, Phillips became well-known for his suggestive catchphrases such as “Ding Dong”, “Well, hello”, and “I Say!”.
Leslie Phillips has died aged 98 / Credit: Carry On
Aside from starring in Carry On films – including Carry On Teacher, Carry On Columbus, Carry On Constable, and Carry On Nurse – of the highlights in his illustrious, several decade-spanning career was when he appeared in Hanif Kureshi’s film Venus alongside the late Peter O’Toole.
He was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his critically-acclaimed performance.
Phillips was made an OBE in the 1998 Birthday Honours, and was promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours.
But, his agent Jonathan Lloyd has today confirmed that the star has passed away, and died “peacefully in his sleep” on Monday.
Tributes have since been pouring in on social media.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Georgina Pellant -
8th November 2022 
