Leslie Phillips: Carry On and Harry Potter star dies aged 98

Actor Leslie Phillips, who was known for appearing in the Carry On films, has died aged 98 after a long illness.

Phillips was also familiar to younger fans as the voice of the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter films.

His wife Zara told the Sun: “I’ve lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman.

“He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.”

Phillips’ agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed the star died peacefully in his sleep on Monday.

The comic actor starred in more 200 films, TV and radio series over his eight-decade career.

He was known for catchphrases such as “Ding dong”, “I say” and “Well, hello”, which he delivered with suggestive intonation.

While he only starred in four of the 31 Carry On films, the actor said his famous catchphrases followed him for the rest of his career.

His death – which comes two years after Barbara Windsor’s – leaves Jim Dale, 86, as the last surviving regular from the Carry On films.

Although he became known for his plummy accent and exaggerated portrayals of the English upper-class, Phillips was born in Tottenham, north London, speaking estuary English.

He attended Italia Conti Stage School before serving as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry during World War Two – between 1942 and 1945, when he was invalided out.

The 1930s marked his first film appearances and in 1959 and 1960 he starred in Carry On Nurse, Carry On Teacher and Carry On Constable.

For 17 years he appeared alongside Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee on hit BBC radio show The Navy Lark.

He also took on dramatic roles, including a Bafta-nominated appearance opposite Peter O’Toole in 2006’s Venus.

Phillips was made an OBE in the 1998 Birthday Honours list and was promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours.

The actor suffered two strokes six months apart at the age of 90.