Laurie Webb, Welsh actor and recent record-holding star of Doctor Who, dies aged 101

Doctor Who legend Laurie Webb has died at the age of 101.

Webb played Mr Ollis in the 1972/1973 serial The Three Doctors and, after the death of Arnold Yarrow in December 2024, became the oldest living person associated with Doctor Who.

Actor and writer Toby Hadoke shared the news from Webb's family, writing on X: "I've been asked by the family to pass on the sad news that one of the Doctor Who's longest lived contributors - Laurie Webb, aka Mr Ollis in The Three Doctors - passed away peacefully on Sunday: 5 weeks short of his 102nd birthday.

"What a life, what a man. Delightful company too."

Webb's TV career began in 1958, when he appeared on the comedy show Sid Caesar Invites You. He later appeared in TV series including Hancock's Half Hour (1959), King of the River (1966), The Troubleshooters (1970), Paul Temple (1971) and Doomwatch (1971).

In 1972, he appeared as Arthur Ollis, the game warden of Minsbridge Wild Life Sanctuary, in Doctor Who's The Three Doctors, and later appeared in 2023's Tales of the TARDIS, in archive footage from the serial.

Tributes have been paid following Webb's death, with documentary-maker Chris Chapman writing: "Sad to hear of the passing of lovely Laurie Webb at the outstanding age of 101. We had a great (and very moving) time filming with him on Looking for Lennie - just incredibly good-natured as a person. RIP."

The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society also said on its X account: "Very sad to hear from the family that our great friend and Hancock's Half Hour regular Laurie Webb has passed away at the age of 101. He had a wonderful career in the theatre, filling in between stage commitments with TV work, including Dr Who. A lovely man, so generous to fans."