Comedian Mel Smith dies at 60
Comedian Mel Smith, celebrated for the long-running sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, has died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
Mel Smith had an 'extraordinary natural talent'
Mel Smith, who has died at the age of 60, has been described as having "extraordinary natural talent" by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV.
Mr Fincham, who was the business partner of Smith and his comedy sideback Griff Rhys Jones at Talkback Productions as well as their agent, said: "Life was always exciting around Mel.
"He was my friend and business partner for many years and had extraordinary natural talent with the rare gift of wearing it lightly.
"Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. Mel and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us."
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