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The actor who played Tinky Winky, the handbag-carrying Teletubbie in the BBC children’s series, has died just four days after his 52nd birthday.

Father-of-three Simon Shelton Barnes, who lived in the Georgian market town of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, trained as a ballet dancer and choreographer.

His co-star John Simmit, who played Dipsy in the show, paid tribute to Simon on Twitter, telling fans: "What a week! RIP Simon Shelton aka Tinky Winky: remembering the many good times. Rest easy.

"Lots of messaging between cast and crew as we became a tight bunch over six years on location. We'll give him an appropriate send off in a couple of weeks."

Simon was the brother-in-law of Poldark actor Robbert Daws and uncle of Inbetweeners actress Emily Atack, and once said that being in the Tellytubbies was “a bit like the Beatles or Take That of television”.

He added: “We used to receive a lot of fan mail from children and parents.”

(Image: ragdoll worldwide ltd) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Emily herself paid tribute to her "wonderful" uncle on Instagram, sharing his black and white headshot with her followers.

"My wonderful uncle Simon Barnes has been taken from us all so suddenly.

"The kindest and most talented man you could ever wish to meet. Loved by all who knew him, and will be forever. X," she captioned it.

Among the other tributes that poured in for him was one from Paul McCartney’s brother Mike McGear, a second cousin of Simon’s former wife Emma.

Mike wrote on her Facebook page: “So sad to hear about Si. He was a luvly lad..and will be dancing along Uncle Bills bar, knocking Mum&Dad, Milly&Ginny, Mike &Betts drinks off, as we talk! Luv to U & kids from me & mine X”

Simon’s son Henry posted on Facebook: “I lost my lovely dad on Wednesday, he was the kindest and most gentle man I knew and I love him more than anything!!!!

"I always used to be embarrassed as a child that he was a dancer and an actor but now I couldn’t be more proud!

"He is in a better place now and I know he wouldn’t want me to be sad, so I’m going to live my life the way he would want me to.”

Friends who drank with Simon in the Queen’s Head pub in Ampthill also paid tribute on Facebook. Jonathan Duckett wrote: “What a legend, so extremely sad to hear this news.”

(Image: BBC) (Image: PA)

Lanie Bryer added: “Very sad, he was lovely. Always a smile and a chat.”

His Tinky Winky character once caused controversy in the States where evangelical TV minister Jerry Falwell accused him of being gay.

But Simon said: “People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay. But the character is supposed to be a three-year-old so the question is really quite silly.”

Relatives have asked mourners to “wear bright colours” at his funeral at Bedford Crematorium on February 7.

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Simon wasn't the first actor to play Tinky Winky - the original, Dave Thompson, left the show in 1997 when the BBC told him his "interpretation of the role was not acceptable".

Dave had admitted in an interview that he played the character as gay.

As well as his work on Teletubbies, Simon played the terrifying Dark Knight in the 1990s CBB C show Incredible Games, challenging the likes of Keith Chegwin, David Walliams and Philippa Forrester to battles.