John Nettleton death: Yes Minister star dies aged 94

Yes Minister star John Nettleton has died aged 94, his representatives have confirmed.

The British actor was best known for portraying cabinet secretary Sir Arnold Robinson in the BBC’s political satire sitcom, and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister, in the 1980s.

Nettleton’s death was confirmed by his agent Scott Marshall Partners on Friday (14 July).

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor John Nettleton at the age of 94,” they told the PA news agency.

“He is survived by his wife Deirdre, three children and five grandchildren.”

Born in Lewisham, London in 1929, Nettleton made a name for himself playing political roles on the small screen.

In Yes Minister and its sequel, Nettleton played civil servant Arnold Robinson, with his character promoted from cabinet secretary to president of the campaign for freedom of information over the years.

Set in a fictional cabinet office, Yes Minister aired from 1980 to 1984. Yes, Prime Minister returned two years later, running from 1986 to 1988.

Nettleton also played Tory MP Stephen Baxter in the British sitcom The New Statesman from 1987 to 1989, and a Ministry of Defence department chief in The Avengers.

The actor appeared in detective dramas Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War, as well as the long-running medical series Casualty.

In the comedy arena, the south-east London native appeared in Kingdom and Brass, as well as 1987’s East Of Ipswich, the latter of which was written by Sir Michael Palin.

A renowned theatre performer, Nettleton appeared in numerous productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and London’s Old Vic.

His theatre work included Harley Granville-Barker’s The Voysey Inheritance and an adaptation of The Wind in the Willows at the National Theatre.

In 1954, he married fellow actor Deirdre Doone, with whom he shared three children.

Additional reporting by Press Association.