Smallscreen News

Joanna Lumley's tribute to 'New Avengers' Gareth

By Stone Martindale Mar 16, 2007, 17:58 GMT

Veteran English actress and Ab Fab star Joanna Lumley paid tribute to her "New Avengers" co-star Gareth Hunt, who died recently after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Joanna Lumley EPA/BEN STANSALL

Joanna Lumley EPA/BEN STANSALLHunt played Mike Gambit in the popular 1970s show, had battled pancreatic cancer for the past two years, reported the Daily Record..Lumley starred with Hunt as Gambit's sidekick Purdey, and has paid tribute to her "dear friend" in the British media.She said: "We started off as friends in The New Avengers and remained that way for more than 30 years.I loved him so much "I went out with him for his birthday in February and he was pretty frail but still hysterically funny."I always looked forward to seeing him. He was loved by everyone who knew him."She added: "He kept his illness quiet, only his family and a few close friends knew."The Daily Record reports that Hunt was also familiar to millions of viewers for his Nescafe ads.The actor died at his home in Redhill, Surrey.His agent Alexandra McLean-Williams said to the Daily Record: "He fought the disease with great courage and through his strength of character and his wonderful sense of humour he continued to work right up until the end of 2006."