23 April 2011 Last updated at 07:45 ET
John Sullivan, who wrote one of the best-loved British sitcoms, Only Fools and Horses, has died at the age of 64.
The BBC said he had suffered a short illness.
He also wrote Citizen Smith, and his latest work Rock & Chips is due to be shown on BBC One on Thursday.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said: “John had a unique gift for turning everyday life and characters we all know into unforgettable comedy.”