One half of the acclaimed screenwriting duo Galton and Simpson, who also wrote Hancock’s Half Hour, has died after a long battle with lung disease

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Alan Simpson, famed for writing TV hits including Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe and Son, has died at the age of 87 after a battle with lung disease.

His manager Tessa Le Bars said: “Having had the privilege of working with Alan and Ray for over 50 years, the last 40 as agent, business manager and friend, and latterly as Alan’s companion and carer, I am deeply saddened to lose Alan after a brave battle with lung disease.”

Simpson was known for his writing partnership with Ray Galton. Galton and Simpson met at Milford Sanatorium when they were both diagnosed with tuberculosis as teenagers.

Galton and his family paid tribute in a statement, saying: “There are no words to express our sense of loss and sadness at the passing of Alan Simpson, Ray’s partner and family friend over the last 70 years.

“From their first attempts at humour, through a lifetime of work together, the strength of Alan and Ray’s personal and professional bond was always at the heart of their success.”

As well as their acclaimed work with Tony Hancock and Steptoe actors Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell, Galton and Simpson also wrote TV, film and stage scripts for Frankie Howerd, Peter Sellers, Leonard Rossiter and Les Dawson.