Beloved children's television host Geoffrey Hayes, who captivated children around the world as the long-time host of Rainbow, has died. He was 76.
While he had a varied acting career that included dramatic roles, Hayes is best known for starring alongside puppets Zippy, George and Bungle in a psychedelic treehouse from 1974 to 1992. Rainbow was filmed in the United Kingdom but also aired in New Zealand.
It was a gig that earned him a reputation as a trusted TV personality, as he taught life lessons and even met with the Queen.
"I'm very proud of Rainbow and even now...people remember it with affection," he told an interviewer for Express in 2015. "Amazingly, I still get recognised. People stop me and thank me for being an important part of their childhood - it's humbling."
In a statement released today by his manager, Phil Dale, Hayes' family expressed thanks to his many fans.
"It always gave Geoffrey so much pleasure to know that he and his Rainbow team had given so much fun to TV and theatre audiences over the years," his family said.
He died in hospital on Sunday, surrounded by family.
Social media has been awash today with an outpouring of grief and tributes among his fans.
"Thank you for filling my childhood with smiles," broadcaster Richard Gerver wrote on Twitter, mirroring notes of hundreds of others.
Actor Frazer Brown recalled meeting the idol when he was a child, and the kindness he showed even off screen.
"When I was about 6 (34 years ago) I recognised him in a garden centre in Feltham," he wrote. "My dad didn't have any paper on him for an autograph so Geoff tore off the back of his cheque book and signed that & drew a zippy on there. I still have it - LEGEND."
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