Terrance Dicks has died aged 84.

The Doctor Who writer was most famous for his work on the hit BBC show between 1968 to 1974.

Steve Cole led tributes to the writer, tweeting: "I'm so sad that Doctor Who legend #TerranceDicks has died. I know how many authors he inspired, and how many millions he entertained as a writer, script-editor, producer and raconteur. I first met him at a library talk when I was eight and edited his final short story this year."

Fellow Doctor Who writer Jenny Colgan wrote: "Terrance Dicks helped more children (especially boys) develop a lifelong love of reading than almost anyone else who's ever lived. I don't think he even got an OBE."

Terrance's success on the Doctor Who series led to him being a key writer in a number of the novels accompanying the show.

During his blossoming career, the writer became a script editor and a producer of classic serials for the BBC.

He oversaw the productions of Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Vanity Fair.

But Terrance was best known for his work as the veteran TV man who brought Doctor Who to life and made it a success.

The gifted writer shared the secrets to his success on Doctor Who was always giving it a face lift, whether it was bringing in a new doctor or changing the female companion.

(Image: PA)

Previously, he told The Register in 2013: "I’ve always said that the reason for its success is its variety. The show constantly undergoes change, whether major or minor – getting a new Doctor, the changing companions – and if it’s working it just carries you along.

"It evolves like a living thing, in fact, but the continuity and the central thread of the show is the Doctor, who is always the Doctor, with the same characteristics and attitudes, ideals and morals."

(Image: BBC)

(Image: PA)

However, the former script writer lamented there was too much sex on the show in 2016.

Steven Moffatt, who had been a recent show frontrunner, locked horns with Terrance over the topic of sex.

According to The Evening Standard, he said: "If you are finding this show sexy, dear Lord in heaven ... you haven't got the internet in your house, have you? How could no sex at all be too much?"

But Terrance hit back: "One gentleman asked me at a convention "should the doctor be a snogger?" and I said "certainly not"."

The script editor appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at the 2010 episode where the Doctor's assistant Amy tried to seduce the Time Lord by lunging at him.

Jodie Whittaker has been the first female to take on the role of the Time Lord as she portrayed the Thirteenth Doctor after Peter Capaldi's stint on the show.