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 'extraordinary talent but wore it lightly'
ITV's director of television Peter Fincham expressed his sadness on hearing Mel Smith had died, describing the news as a "big moment" for the industry.
Speaking from the Latitude festival, Peter said he would remember Mel more as a friend than as a comedian - he was his partner in a company they ran together called Talkback Productions.
He said he would remember Mel as a "gentle man" who "wore his extraordinary talent very lightly".
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