From today’s Guardian:
Mike Reid, the former star of EastEnders who made his name as a stand-up comedian, died of a heart attack at his home in Spain yesterday, aged 67.
I’m pleased the obituary mentions Runaround, the kids game show he hosted in the 70s. I grew up on that show (along with Crackerjack and Basil Brush of course).
Mike Reid was a true EastEnder and reminded me of quite a few people I knew growing up in Manor Park. Whenever I caught a glimpse of him on that show it got a little bit less unreal:
Reid was born in Hackney, east London, in 1940 and began to earn money almost as soon as he could walk, according to his autobiography, T’rific. During the 50s and 60s he was a member of a north London gang that hijacked lorries, blew up safes and settled scores with shotguns.