Geoffrey Hayes, who hosted long-running children’s programme Rainbow, has passed away.
The actor and TV presenter’s manager Phil Dale said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that the family announce that Geoffrey passed away in hospital with his wife, Sarah, and son, Tom, by his side.
‘Geoffrey Hayes (born 13 March 1942) was an English television presenter and actor, best known as the host of Thames Television’s top-rated children’s show Rainbow, and for his portrayal of Detective Constable Scatliff in the successful TV Series Z Cars for the BBC.
‘The family would like to express their thanks to the many fans over the years as it always gave Geoffrey so much pleasure to know that he and his Rainbow team had given so much fun to TV and theatre audiences over the years.
‘There will be no further comment at the moment and it would be appreciated if the privacy of Geoffrey’s family is respected at this most difficult time.’
Speaking of his time on Rainbow, Geoffrey said: “I’m very proud of Rainbow and even now, over 20 years since it finished in 1993, people remember it with affection. Amazingly, I still get recognised. People stop me and thank me for being an important part of their childhood – it’s humbling.
“Like nearly every other kid, my son Tom enjoyed watching it. He’d watch the videos endlessly and then ask me to re-enact scenes over and over.
“I loved working on Rainbow and couldn’t wait to get into the studio. Other actors thought me mad because I never minded coming in on days off to rehearse. Classed as a pre-school programme, it meant my wages were at the lower end of the pay scale. I never earned vast amounts, but at least it was a regular income for 20 years, even if it didn’t make me a millionaire.”
He once recalled of his Z Cars experience to the Express: “I played Detective Constable Scatliff in Z Cars between 1971 and 1974. It was a great series to work on. There I was, a young actor from Stockport, working alongside such great actors as John Slater, who played Detective Sergeant Tom Stone.” Geoffrey also popped up in an episode of another police classic, Dixon of Dock Green.
After Rainbow, Jack did pantomime alongside EastEnders favourite Shane Richie.
He also did some work as a taxi driver, something that was played up upon in some TV adverts Geoffrey did, and he was once a guest on Nevermind the Buzzcocks. In 2005 Geoffrey featured in Peter Kay’s Comic Relief version of Is This the Way to Amarillo.
He said: “Like most actors, I’ve had spells of unemployment and for four months I worked two nights a week shelf-stacking in my local Sainsbury’s.
“I didn’t do it for the money – it was just that I’d been out of work for five months and was hanging around the house becoming a pain.
“My wife told me to do something to take my mind off it. I also did a stint taxi driving. Now I’m retired and when I look back at my TV career, I feel very lucky. I’ll always be grateful for Rainbow and the life it’s given me.”