Brian Hibbard
Brian Hibbard | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 17 June 2012 | (aged 65)
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
Years active | 1980 – 2012 |
Known for | Being a founding member of The Flying Pickets |
Children | 3 |
Brian Hibbard (26 November 1946 – 17 June 2012)[1] was a British actor and singer from Ebbw Vale, Wales, best remembered as the lead vocalist in the original The Flying Pickets.[2]
Early life and career
Hibbard was born into a working class family in Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, and had a socialist upbringing.[1] He was educated at Ebbw Vale Grammar School. After various jobs including teacher, steel worker, barman and chimney sweep, he formed The Flying Pickets with a group of other actors who had practised a cappella singing while travelling by coach to their appearances.
Following the group's success in the early 1980s, Hibbard went on to pursue a career as a television actor, appearing in Coronation Street as garage mechanic Doug Murray, in Emmerdale as Bobby-John Downes, and as Johnny Mac in the Welsh language soap Pobol y Cwm as well as the youth drama Pam Fi, Duw?. He was in the 1997 film Twin Town as the self-styled "Karaoke King" Dai Rees. He has also appeared in the drama serial Making Out; in the Doctor Who story Delta and the Bannermen; in comedy in The Armando Ianucci Shows and Satellite City; and in the film Rancid Aluminium. Hibbard appeared in EastEnders from 4 to 8 July 2011 playing Henry Mason, a man who ran a children's home where Billy Mitchell and Julie Perkins were in care.
Death
In 2000, Hibbard was diagnosed with prostate cancer; he died of the disease on 17 June 2012.[3][4] He is survived by his wife Caroline and their children Lilly, Hafwen and Cai.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Brian Hibbard: Singer and actor who formed the Flying Pickets". The Independent. 20 June 2012.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 387. CN 5585.
- ^ "Brian Hibbard dies from prostate cancer". Metro., Archived
- ^ Hayward, Anthony (19 June 2012). "Brian Hibbard obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "Actor and ex-Flying Pickets singer Brian Hibbard dies". BBC News. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2019.