Children’s TV host also known for voicing Trumpton and Camberwick Green had been living with Parkinson’s disease

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The TV presenter and actor Brian Cant has died aged 83. The former Play School host had been living with Parkinson’s disease, his agent said. He died at Denville Hall, a retirement home often used by those in the entertainment industry.

A family statement said: “It is with great sadness that we, his family, have to announce that Brian Cant has died aged 83 at Denville Hall. He lived courageously with Parkinson’s disease for a long time.

“Brian was best known and well loved for his children’s programmes Play School and Play Away and was honoured by Bafta in 2010. Donations would be most appreciated to Denville Hall and the Actors’ Benevolent Fund.”

Born in Ipswich in 1933, Cant was making programmes for schools in 1964 when he was hired as a Play School presenter, which proved to be his big break. He remained with the children’s TV favourite for more than 20 years and became part of the Play Away team, the Play School spin-off aimed at an older audience.

How we made: Alison Prince and Brian Cant on Trumpton Read more

Cant’s voice is also familiar to viewers of the animated series Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley, in which he narrated the tales of Windy Miller, Chippy Minton and PC McGarry.

He famously voiced the Trumpton fire brigade roll call of “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub”. Other shows he worked on included Bric-a-Brac and Milkshake.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Characters in the animated series Trumpton, which Cant voiced. Photograph: None

In 2007 Cant topped a poll of presenters with the best-loved voices in children’s TV. He also clocked up roles in adult programmes such as Doctor Who and Casualty. He appeared in Doctors in 2011.

He also appeared on stage in theatre productions such as The Railway Children and The Canterbury Tales, as well as pantomimes. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1999.

Cant once said in an interview that he was surprised that so many fans remembered him as a legend of children’s television. “It’s obviously very kind and very rewarding to have that effect, but I can’t believe it was that important to everyone,” he said.

He married writer and director Cherry Britton in 1984 and they had three children.