Jeremy Lloyd, the comedy writer behind ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Are You Being Served?, died with an estate worth just £59,218, according to probate office records
Jeremy Lloyd, the BBC comedy writer behind iconic British sitcoms ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Are You Being Served?, passed away leaving nothing in his estate, according to official documents.
The comedic maestro, who died on 23 December 2014, was responsible for creating two of Britain’s most cherished sitcoms, yet probate office records show his estate was valued at a mere £59,218 at the time of his death.
Despite reportedly planning to leave his wealth to his wife Lizzie and former fiancée, actress Charlotte Rampling, once his debts were settled, his estate held no value.
Lloyd, who was married three times, including a brief union with actress Joanna Lumley from 1970 to 1971, saw their marriage end in a no-fault divorce after just a few months. Reflecting on their fleeting marriage, Joanna once quipped: “He was witty, tall and charming we should have just had a raging affair,” reports the Express.
Starting his career as a performer, Lloyd went on to write jokes for comedy greats such as Morecambe and Wise and Bruce Forsyth. His big break came with his two sitcoms, beginning with Are You Being Served? in 1972.
Drawing on his own experience working at Simpsons of Piccadilly, he based the comedy around the fictional Grace Brothers department store.
The show’s cheeky humour and unforgettable catchphrases, including Mr Humphries’s camp “I’m Free”, drew audiences of up to 22 million and ran for an impressive 13 years.
In 2004, it earned 20th place on the BBC’s list of Britain’s Best Sitcoms. This success cleared the path for ‘Allo ‘Allo in 1982, following WWII French café owner Rene Artois (Gordon Kaye) and besotted waitress Yvette (Vikki Michelle).
The oft-repeated catchphrase from Resistance fighter Michelle Dubois, “Listen very carefully, I shall say ‘zis only once!” later became the title for Lloyd’s autobiography.
The son of an Army colonel and a dancer, he received an OBE for his contributions to comedy in 2012, having been raised amongst The Tiller Girls. He died in December 2014 aged 84 in hospital after fighting pneumonia, merely six months following his marriage to his third wife.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
