Glam star and actor Alvin Stardust dies at 72

Glam star Alvin Stadust, who has died aged 72. Credit: PA

Singer and actor Alvin Stardust died this morning aged 72 after a short illness, his manager said.

He had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died at home with his wife and family around him.

The singer - real name Bernard Jewry - started out in the music business in the 1960s but became a huge star on the back of the 1970s glam rock craze scoring hits with tracks including My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind.

'My Coo Ca Choo' was Alvin Stardust's first successful release for Alvin Stardust and it reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in December 1973.

According to Wikipedia, The glam rock single fared even better in Australia, where it spent seven weeks at the top and was the best charting single in the country in 1974.

Later in life he turned to acting, appearing in a number of television shows in the 1990s, including Hollyoaks and Doctors, along with TV movie The Grimleys.

He also went on to perform in musicals, including a notable six month stint in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

Towards the end of his life, however, he returned to his first love, music.

At the time of his death he was on the verge of releasing his first studio album since 1984.

Writing on his official website he had said of the record:

Video Credit: Rhino Records/Via YouTube

Celebrities and friends have been paying tribute on Twitter, including his former wife Liza Goddard:

The legendary DJ Tony Blackburn said Stardust "gave us some great songs" while Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell praised him as a consummate performer.