Tributes have begun pouring in for Keeping Up Appearances actor Clive Swift, who has died at the age of 82. 

His agent Roxane Vacca confirmed he had died following a short illness on Friday. 

After the news broke, many of Clive’s fellow comedy stars, including John Challis, Vicki Michelle and James Dreyfus, honoured the “extremely talented” actor, who was known best to many as Richard Bucket – the hen-pecked husband of indomitable snob Hyacinth on the 90s BBC sitcom. 

The controller of comedy at the BBC, Shane Allen, also issued a statement via the corporation’s press office Twitter account. 

“Clive was a very highly regarded character actor with a long and distinguished career,” he said. “His role as Richard Bucket brought huge audiences and great affection in one of the all-time classic sitcoms. 

“Thoughts are with close friends and loved ones at this sad time.”

The TV channel Gold, which airs re-runs of Keeping Up Appearances, also posted this on Twitter: 

Clive played the role of Richard Bucket for five series between 1990 and 1995. 

He also appeared in BBC sitcoms The Old Guys, Born And Bred and Cuckoo, as well as twice starring in Doctor Who – once in 1985, and again in the 2007 Christmas special. 

Clive’s last credited TV role was in 2017, when he appeared in an episode of Midsomer Murders. 

Announcing his death in a statement sent to HuffPost UK, Clive’s agent said: “After a short illness, Clive died peacefully at home this morning surrounded by his family.”

Clive’s daughter Rebecca died in 2017. He is survived by his two sons Adam and Joe, and by his four grandchildren, Danny, Lillie, Stanley and Connie.