Mel Smith dies of a heart attack aged 60

Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed.

The British comedian – known for his work on sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O’clock News – died at his home on Friday.

Smith formed a lasting partnership with Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions.

He was born in west London in 1952.