Bernard Cribbins Obituary

Bernard Cribbins, a British Actor Known for ‘Doctor Who,’ died on July 27, 2022, at the age of 93.

Bernard Joseph Cribbins OBE was an English actor and singer whose career spanned seven decades.

Cribbins was born into a working-class family in Oldham, Lancashire on December 29, 1928.

Cribbins’ mother worked barefoot in a local factory, while his father was a champion clog-fighter.

At age 14, he began stage acting at Oldham Repertory Theatre, where he found himself appearing in a succession of small parts but it was enough to give him a taste for the bright lights.

Cribbins’ eight-year stint in Oldham was interrupted by National Service, where he served with the Parachute Regiment in Palestine amid the 1947-1948 crisis.

Cribbins worked consistently following his professional debut in the mid-1950s. He had become a major star on the London stage by his mid-twenties.

He was very skilled at musical comedy, appearing in the revue show And Another Thing, and releasing a number from the show called Folksong as a single.

Cribbins rose to prominence in the 1960s when he released three hit singles, including the comedy classic Right Said Fred.

Bernard Cribbins starred in numerous films including Two-Way Stretch (1960), Carry On, The Railway Children (1970), Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy (1972), Fawlty Towers (1975), Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D (1966), Doctor Who (1963), Doctor Who (2005), and many more.

Cribbins was also a regular and prolific performer on the BBC’s Jackanory from 1966 to 1991, he narrated the children’s BBC programme The Wombles between 1973 and 1975 and played the title role in the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat from 2013 to 2015.

In 2009, Cribbins was awarded a special Bafta to mark his contribution to children’s film and television.

Bernard Cribbins was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.

He has three sisters; Veronica, Kathleen and Barbara.

Bernard Cribbins was married to the former Gillian McBarnet.