South Yorkshire TV star Keith Barron dies at 83

The former Corrie actor (pictured), who was born in Mexborough, found fame in the 1960s through the Granada TV series The Odd Man and its spin-off It’s Dark Outside. 

He went on to appear in series as varied as Redcap, Z-Cars, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The New Avengers, The Professionals and A Touch of Frost, while Brits-abroad comedy Duty Free made him a household name in the 1980s.

Mr Barron's many credits included appearances in Coronation Street as George Trench in the late 2000s, on ITV drama Where the Heart Is and, most recently, as Nigel Banks, the father of the title character in ITV’s detective drama DCI Banks.

His agent said in a statement: “He had a long and varied career which included The Nigel Barton Plays by Dennis Potter of which he was immensely proud.

“He is survived by his wife Mary to whom he was married for 58 years and his son, Jamie, also an actor.”