Farewell Tony Your 'VISIONS' Will go 'ON'

Artist and children's presenter Tony Hart has died, aged 83.

Hart, who lived in Surrey, had suffered from health problems for a number of years, including two strokes. His family said he died peacefully.
The affable presenter inspired children to paint and draw on shows like Vision On, Take Hart and Hartbeat for nearly 50 years before he retired in 2001.
Fellow artist Rolf Harris led tributes, calling Hart "a very gentle and talented guy".
"He enthused and inspired a whole generation of kids into creating their own works of art, simple or complex."

Hart's agent, Roc Renals, said the presenter had died in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said: "I was for many years his best friend, agent, manager and publicist. He suffered two strokes many years ago and his health declined since then."
"Thousands and thousands of young people who are now grown up will thank him for inspiring them to take up art," he added.
Wilf Lunn, Hart's friend who worked with him on Vision On for nine years, said he was a television pioneer.
"His legacy was the fact he really started all these children's programmes, Art Attack and all that, and he was the guy, right at the beginning.
"And he was the guy who had all these little tricks that teachers used to use because they make things look easy, and we got people into doing it. And he was such a nice man."
Morph

A lovely, gentle, skilful presenter, who allowed the art to be the centre of attention
vauqueliniere

The artist served as an officer in the 1st Gurkha Rifles in World War II, before joining a course at Maidstone College of Art.
Gurkha Welfare Trust director Colonel William Shuttlewood said Hart regularly donated pictures which were auctioned and raised "substantial" amounts of money.
He said: "I am sorry he has gone. He was a lovely chap and was very keen to make sure we were supported properly."
It was a chance meeting in 1952 with a BBC TV producer and a demonstration of his quick art skills on a paper napkin that secured his on-screen career.
Hart became resident artist on the Saturday Special programme that year.
Subsequent TV shows included Playbox, Titch and Quackers, Vision On, Take Hart, Hartbeat and Smart Hart.
From 1977 he appeared with animated clay character Morph, who lived in a pencil box. Morph was later joined by his cream-coloured colleague Chas.
Hartbeat often attracted 5.4 million viewers and Hart's mailbag varied between 6,000 and 8,000 per week.
Richard Deverell, BBC Children's Controller, said: "Tony was a warm man who had an unique ability to communicate with and inspire children.
"He was an inspirational man and a terrific broadcaster."
Hart received two Bafta awards, won a lifetime achievement award in 1998, and also created the original design for the Blue Peter badge.
In an interview last year he said not being able to draw after suffering two strokes was the "greatest cross I have to bear".
However, he added: "My aged heart is warmed by the lovely letters and e-mails I receive, especially when they tell me that my work on television inspired the writers to become artists, sometimes very successful ones."

Knocked For Six!

Rest In Peace Patrick McGoohan.

Emmy-winning actor Patrick McGoohan, best known for starring in cult 1960s TV show The Prisoner, has died at the age of 80. He died in Los Angeles after a short illness, his film producer son-in-law Cleve Landsberg told Associated Press. McGoohan played the character Six in the surreal 1960s show, filmed in the north Wales village of Portmeirion. He won two Emmy awards for his work on TV detective series Columbo, playing different characters. The first came for an episode of the series in 1974, with another 16 years later. 'I am a free man' The screen star also won a Bafta award for best television actor in 1959 for his role in The Greatest Man In The World, a one-off drama in ITV's Armchair Theatre series. In more recent years, McGoohan played King Edward Longshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film Braveheart. The actor also starred in ITV series Danger Man, which began in 1960The actor, who was born in New York and raised in England and Ireland, came to screen prominence in TV series Danger Man, in which he played a secret service agent. The programme later aired as Secret Agent in the US. He was later considered for the role of James Bond for the movie Dr No.

But McGoohan was chiefly associated with cult ITV drama The Prisoner, writing some of the episodes himself under a different name. His character spent the entire time attempting to escape from The Village and finding out the identity of his captor, the elusive Number One.
He repeatedly declared: "I am not a number - I am a free man!" In 2000, McGoohan reprised his most famous role in an episode of The Simpsons. 'Cult status' Residents of Portemeirion, which has its own The Prisoner shop selling memorabilia from the show, have paid tribute to the star. Councillor Dewi Lewis said: "It helped to put Portmeirion the village on the map during the 60s and we are still benefiting from that today." Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner - Courtesy Sony BMG"Mr McGoohan is held in high esteem in the area for the work he did - it still has a loyal following of people who come to Portmeirion annually." Robin Llywelyn, managing director of the Portmeirion village resort, added: "What he created out of The Prisoner is a lasting piece of TV at its best - it achieved cult status. It's something that we are very proud of." Last year, ITV confirmed that Passion of the Christ star Jim Caviezel would take the role of Number Six in a remake of The Prisoner, which will also star Sir Ian McKellen. "His [McGoohan's] creation of The Prisoner made an indelible mark on the sci-fi, fantasy and political thriller genres, creating one of the most iconic characters of all time," AMC, which is co-producing the remake, said in a statement. "AMC hopes to honour his legacy in our re-imagining of The Prisoner." McGoohan's last role came in 2002, as a voice artist in animated picture Treasure Planet.

Time.....Is A Luxury You Don't Have, Admiral!

Rest in peace Ricardo Montalban!

Actor Ricardo Montalban, who starred in the popular US TV show Fantasy Island in the 1970s-80s, has died aged 88, a Los Angeles city official says. The Mexican-born actor died at his home, the official said. Fantasy Island ran for six years and centred on a magical island where guests could live out their dreams. Montalban - who had a long career in entertainment - was also well-known for playing the villain in Star Trek, both on television and in a feature film.
Montalban's death was announced by Eric Garcetti, who represents the LA district where the actor lived. David Brokaw, the actor's friend, described him as a "very courtly, modest, dignified individual," the Associated Press news agency reports. Montalban had been a film star in Mexico before moving to Hollywood in 1946.