Tributes have been paid to Robert Blythe, actor and star of Welsh sit-com High Hopes, who has died following a long illness.

Born and raised in Port Talbot, ‘Bob’ was trained as an actor at The Arts Educational Trust in London.

His theatre work include repertory seasons at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, the Liverpool Playhouse, and the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, as well as Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, and the Grand Theatre in Swansea.

He also worked at the Royal National Theatre, staring in Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2, Henry V, Mother Clap’s Molly House and Under Milk Wood.

His television work included The Bill, Little Britain, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.

He was also an associate artist of Clwyd Theatr Cymru, where his credits include Equus, King Lear, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and An Inspector Calls.

Robert Blythe

Actor Christian Patterson, who was part of the original company at Clwyd Theatr Cymru alongside Bob in 1997, said: "Bob was a wonderful actor and a wonderful man.

"I have starred in many productions with him, and he was an incredibly funny man. You know if you were going to be in his company, you were going to end up laughing hysterically.

"He was the type of man who would buy a watch from a man in a pub, and then wonder why it had broken a week later. He was just hilarous.

"He was a good, good, dear man."

In High Hopes, Blythe played 'Fagin' Hepplewhite in the fictional south Wales village of Cwm-Pen-Ol, known for his dodgy business ventures, assisted by two boys, one who was played by actor Steven Meo.

Steven, who is also an associate artist with Clwyd Theatr Cymru where he shared a stage with Blythe in The Taming of the Shrew, said: "What a man. He had been ill for a while, but when you hear the news it still takes the wind out of your sails.

"He was a really easy man to make laugh, and laughter was always close to the surface with him.

"He was great fun, and together we were always the last to leave a party.

"I had some of the best years of my life working with him. High Hopes was a brilliant job, and he was a brilliant man and I am going to miss him."

Bob Blythe, second from left in second row from bottom, and the original Theatr Clwyd company put together by artistic director Terry Hands in 1997

Theatr Clwyd, meanwhile, tweeted: "It is with great sadness that we learn about the passing of our dear friend Bob Blythe.

"Bob was a wonderful actor who graced our stages over the last forty years. It was a real privilege to have worked with him. Our thoughts are with his family."

Actor and director Craig Russell, who also appeared alongside Bob on High Hopes, added: "Having appeared on the show alongside Bob, I got to know him really well.

"He was completely unique and so much fun to be around.

"He once told me about how he and his friend drove from Port Talbot to help out in Aberfan, just after the disaster there happened."

Mr Blythe was twice married, and has two daughters and two sons.