BBC children’s TV legend dies suddenly as family says heart is ‘torn apart’

Children's TV star and cartoonist Tony Husband has sadly died after suffering a heart attack on a bridge.

The 73 year old, who was also known for his work with Private Eye, was on his way to the magazine's party in London when he collapsed on Westminster Bridge. Despite a quick response from emergency services, they were unable to save him.

Tony, who was born in Blackpool, had a successful career that included appearances on the BBC's children's variety show Hangar 17 – that featured bands including Take That and East 17 – in the 1990s and writing for ITV's satirical 90s children's TV show Round The Bend!. His work was also featured in The Times, Punch, Playboy and The Sunday Express.

His son Paul shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, saying: "I don't know what more I can say other than he was everything to me. It's somewhat ironic that he somehow managed to survive 30 years of Private Eye parties but this one he didn't make".

Paul also took to Twitter to share the sad news, writing: "It is with a torn apart heart that I must announce the passing of my dad."

Private Eye later paid tribute to Tony on the platform, saying: "RIP cartoonist Tony Husband – prolific, funny and inventive contributor to Private Eye since 1985."

Among those paying their respects to the talented artist was author and former Pointless star Richard Osman. He said: "So sad to hear of the death of the wonderful cartoonist Tony Husband, a man whose work has made me laugh so many times. Humour with such tremendous wit and warmth."

Nick Newman, a fellow cartoonist, expressed his sorrow over Tony's passing, stating: "Unbearably sad news that the great Tony Husband has died. Creator of Yobs and thousands of brilliant cartoons for Private Eye and others, he will be hugely missed by friends and readers."

In an interview with ITV News earlier this year, Tony revealed that he had contributed a cartoon to every issue of Private Eye for nearly four decades. He commented: "The way it is today, life is like a cartoon. You get cartoon characters like Boris Johnson, who's like something Spitting Image created. But definitely, [cartoons] are needed these days."

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