Mark Gatiss, 54, took to Twitter to share the heartbreaking news that his dad Maurice had died aged 89. Celebrities and fans flooded the comments section under the tweet to send their love and condolences to a devastated Mark, who branded his dad a “wonderful man and a real character right to the end”.
The Sherlock star penned the loving tribute alongside a string of three photos of Maurice in his heyday, on the day he married Mark’s mum Winnifred, who died in 2003, and a more recent snap.
“My dear old Dad passed away this morning just shy of his 90th birthday,” he began.
“Maurice was a wonderful man and a real character right to the end.”
He also thanked the hospital staff for thier help, saying: “Huge thanks to the brilliant staff on Ward 16 of #NHS Bishop Auckland Hospital for all their kindnesses.”