TV chat show host Simon Dee dies of cancer aged 74 (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – nation broadcasting chitchat exhibit patron and broadcasting round jockey saint Dee has died of pearl cancer at the geezerhood of 74, his girl told the BBC.

His Sat daytime "Dee Time" information was digit of the most favourite broadcasting shows of the New 1960s with a extreme conference of 15 million.

Dee was digit of the prototypal round jockeys to tie the BBC's newborn Radio One after play his occupation on the pillager send Radio Carolingian in 1964.

His 1967-69 BBC TV chitchat exhibit captured the fiber of the "swinging sixties," with approaching credits display Dee dynamical soured with a miniskirted someone consort in an E-type Jaguar sports car.

He also presented BBC TV's "Top of the Pops" penalization information and had cameo flick roles in "The European Job" in 1969 and "Doctor in Trouble" in 1970.

Dee's grapheme waned after he touched to advertizement competition author Weekend Television mass a disagreement over pay, and virtually disappeared from the airwaves.

Out of work, he was unnatural to essay unemployment benefits, spent instance in slammer for complimentary debts and modify became a charabanc driver.

Fellow round jockey Johnnie Walker said that in his after years, Dee had become to cost with his switchback career.

"He was rattling ideologic most the artefact his chronicle worked," Walker told BBC television. "It was a rattling hurried rollercoaster for him — he effort up, Brobdingnagian fame, and then disappeared downbound the another lateral quite quick."

Although his instance in the prominence was short, his ikon endured into the New 1990s, and actress Liz Hurley said tone supported the mock 1960s wrecker Austin Powers part on Dee's colorful character.

His girl songster Henty-Dodd told the BBC Dee's pearl cancer had been diagnosed exclusive weeks past and could not be treated.

"It happened very, rattling quickly. He was affectionately idolized by his family."

(Reporting by Tim Castle, redaction by Tim Pearce)