Pillar of Saturday night television from 1960s to 80s dies peacefully at home in Buckinghamshire

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Irish singer Val Doonican, a pillar of Saturday night television for two decades, has died aged 88.

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The performer died peacefully at home in Buckinghamshire, his daughter Sarah confirmed on Thursday morning.

“Until 87, he was as fit as a flea,” she told the Guardian. “It was just old age, I’m afraid – the batteries ran out.”

Born in Waterford, Ireland, on 3 February 1927, Doonican was the youngest of eight children of Agnes (née Kavanagh) and John Doonican.

The performer was a regular fixture on TV screens with The Val Doonican Show which ran on the BBC from 1965 to 1986, featuring his own performances and guest artists.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Val Doonican on his show in 1982.

He was also rarely out of the UK singles chart in the 1960s and 70s with songs such as Walk Tall, The Special Years and Elusive Butterfly.

Sarah Doonican said her father and mother, Lynn, had been married for 54 years. Lynn was at the family home with relatives on Thursday morning.

“I don’t think there’s a person in the world that would have a bad thing to say about him,” his daughter said. “He was every bit as lovely as he appeared on the television. There was no [nasty] side to him at all. He was a delightful, delightful man.”

In a statement, his family said: “He leaves behind his wife, Lynn, daughters Sarah and Fiona and grandchildren Bethany and Scott. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by family, friends and his many fans.”

The singer, who was born Michael Valentine Doonican, often joked that it took him 17 years to gain overnight success.

He started performing in his home town, was featured on Irish radio and appeared in Waterford’s first-ever television broadcast. In 1951 he moved to England to join the Irish quartet The Four Ramblers, who toured and performed on BBC Radio. The group also supported the late Anthony Newley on tour, who persuaded Doonican to launch his solo career.

In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the Palladium, which led to him being offered his own show on BBC TV which ran for more than 20 years. He went on to have five hits in the top 10: Walk Tall, The Special Years, Elusive Butterfly, What Would I Be and If The Whole World Stopped Loving.

Doonican’s jumpers became his trademark along with the rocking chair from which he often performed hits, including Paddy McGinty’s Goat. His show launched numerous artists’ careers, including that of comedian Dave Allen.

Val Doonican in his trademark rocking chair. Photograph: PR

He retired in 2009 after more than 60 years in showbusiness. A keen golfer and watercolour painter, in July 2011 he was handed the freedom of the town of Waterford.