Author Reginald Hill dies aged 75

Colin Buchanan and Warren ClarkeCrime writer Reginald Hill, who penned the Dalziel and Pascoe series of books, has died at the age of 75.

Hill penned over 20 novels in the Dalziel and Pascoe series with the first being published in 1970 and the last in 2009. Hill originally worked as a teacher but in 1980 gave up the profession to write full time. In 1996 the novels were adapted for BBC Television starring Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan. The Dalziel and Pascoe television series ran for 12 seasons and only ended in 2007 because of budget cut backs at the BBC. In all 46 episodes of the television drama were produced with guest stars such as John Alderton, Francesca Annis, Keith Allen, James Bolam, Lindsay Coulson, Kenneth Cranham, Celia Imrie, Dervla Kirwan and Leslie Phillips appearing across its episodes.