'Ronnies', 'Spitting' writer Rowley dies

Two Ronnies and Spitting Image writer Laurie Rowley has died, aged 68.

Rowley, who also penned work for Not The Nine O'Clock News, Hale and Pace and Alas Smith & Jones, is survived by his wife Joyce and children Leslie and Johanne.

Clive Anderson, who worked with the writer on scripts for his chatshow, told The Guardian: "[Laurie] did a good line in jokes, old and new, about baldness and hair loss, an area in which he was always slightly ahead of me.

"To younger writers, he laid down all sorts of rules about gag writing. Don't use numbers: the audience start worrying about figures and miss the joke. Don't distract with unnecessary detail. At all costs avoid 'jingles' - the repetition of a word. Remember most people are mainly interested in sex and money."

Rowley took up writing in his mid-30s after giving up his job as a shower-fitter in Leeds. He was taken on by the BBC after it was impressed by the material he had penned while previously working as a plumber.

His writing won him numerous accolades include a Sony Award and a Golden Rose.

Rowley passed away at his home in Yorkshire at the end of last month.