The actor who played Captain Birds Eye in the adverts for Birds Eye fish fingers for more than 30 years has died.
John Hewer, who played the role of the jolly, bearded naval captain from 1967 until 1998, was 86 when he died at the weekend.
He had been living at the actors' retirement home Brinsworth House in Middlesex, the BBC news website reported.
The popular Captain Birds Eye character wore a naval uniform and had a bushy white beard.
Captain Birds Eye - John Hewer Captain Birds Eye: played by Hewer from 1967 to 1998 Birds Eye's ads were targeted at children and often featured the old sailor with a crew of youngsters, inviting them to eat fish fingers at "the captain's table".
When the character was temporarily retired in 1971, the Times ran his obituary before heralding his resurrection three years later with an announcement that reports of the Captain's death had been "grossly exaggerated".
After Hewer eventually retired from the part, he was replaced by Thomas Pescod.
John Hewer, who played the role of the jolly, bearded naval captain from 1967 until 1998, was 86 when he died at the weekend.
He had been living at the actors' retirement home Brinsworth House in Middlesex, the BBC news website reported.
The popular Captain Birds Eye character wore a naval uniform and had a bushy white beard.
Captain Birds Eye - John Hewer Captain Birds Eye: played by Hewer from 1967 to 1998 Birds Eye's ads were targeted at children and often featured the old sailor with a crew of youngsters, inviting them to eat fish fingers at "the captain's table".
When the character was temporarily retired in 1971, the Times ran his obituary before heralding his resurrection three years later with an announcement that reports of the Captain's death had been "grossly exaggerated".
After Hewer eventually retired from the part, he was replaced by Thomas Pescod.
