AUTHOR and TV presenter Bamber Gascoigne has died at the age of 87, it was announced today.

Gascoigne, best known as the original presenter of popular quiz show University Challenge, died at his home in Richmond upon Thames following a short illness.

Following a successful writing and presenting career, he was appointed CBE for services to the arts and was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).

Gascoigne was very active in Richmond life, becoming the first patron of the Richmond Museum when it opened in the 1980s.

He continued in the role and helped raise the museum's profile by hosting talks and narrating audio guides to new exhibitions.

In 2018, the history enthusiastropened the museum's 30th anniversary exhibition and presented a model of a of a double-sculling skiff made in 1876.

He is survived by his wife Christina, who he was married to for 55 years.

Chairman of the Richmond Society, Barry May, said: "We at The Richmond Society were very sorry to hear this morning that our Patron Bamber Gascoigne had died at his Richmond home after a short illness.

"Bamber had been a Patron since 1989 and although he kept very busy with many social and cultural commitments he always found time to be enthusiastically supportive of the Society's work to preserve the special character of Richmond.

"He will be much missed as a distinguished figure in the town and a supporter of many local causes.

"We offer our deepest sympathy to Bamber's wife Christina."

Actor Mark Gatiss, who played Bamber in the much-loved film 'Starter for 10', wrote on Twitter: "Very sorry to hear that Bamber Gascoigne has died.

"An ever-cheerful icon of our collective TV upbringing who made knowledge and intelligence seem fun. That's how boffins should be, I always thought. It was a great joy to play him. RIP."