Reg Varney dies

Reg Varney – famous for his role as Stan Butler in ITV sitcom, On The Buses – has died aged 92.

His daughter, Jeanne Marley, told the press her father died peacefully in his sleep following a ‘short illness’.

Varney became a household name starring in London Weekend Television’s sitcom On The Buses, his character being one of the most popular in the shows seven year run. Production company LWT were so impressed with Varney’s viewer appeal he was given his own entertainment series, ‘Reg Varney’ which was even parodied by other ITV stalwart Stanley Baxter. Reg later worked for ATV on entertainment programming, but never quite captured the success of his time with On The Buses.

Off screen Varney made made history when he became the first person in the UK to use an automatic cash dispenser in Enfield, north London back in 1967. The machine however was very different to the card and pin devices we know today.

Other work saw the performer appear in various film roles including three big screen comedy movies of On The Buses, drama The Best Pair of Legs in the Business, a stage tour of the bus-based sitcom as well as prior to his ITV work a long running role in the BBC’s Rag Trade series set in a clothing factory.