Patrick Fyffe, the comic who played Dame Hilda Bracket, one half of "female impersonators" Hinge and Bracket, has died of cancer, aged 60. George Logan, who played opposite him as Dr. Evadne Hinge, said, “He was one of the finest people I ever knew, a great natural comedian. He was a totally original wit, great at off-the-cuff humour and anecdotes. He was a joy to accompany and working with him was a pleasure.”
The actor was taken ill while rehearsing for a pantomime before Christmas and was diagnosed with cancer. He subsequently had round-the-clock care by doctors but died at his home near Bath on Saturday. The BBC paid tribute to a “hugely gifted” man.
Hinge and Bracket was the witty portrayal of a couple of eccentric, opera-loving spinsters at their home in Suffolk, with Logan as the gangly Hinge and Fyffe as Bracket- the blonde with the lop-sided smile. First seen as An Evening with Hinge and Bracket at the 1974 Edinburgh Festival, the show went on to be staged around Britain, in the Far East and in Australia. A long-running radio show, The Random Jottings of Hinge and Bracket followed, as well as the TV series, Dear Ladies. The Queen Mother was amongst the act’s many fans.
A BBC spokesman said of Patrick Fyffe, “His humour was without malice. He will be remembered with great fondness by millions of BBC viewers and listeners.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
