'Unique' BBC comedy chief is killed by lorry

Tributes were paid today to a leading BBC comedy producer who died after apparently collapsing and being hit by a lorry.

Geoffrey Perkins, 55, former head of comedy at the corporation, was pronounced dead at the scene in Marylebone High Street.

He had just finished work on Friday morning with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse on a new series, Harry And Paul.

Mr Perkins, who also worked in the independent sector with Hat Trick Productions and Tiger Aspect, was involved in hits such as The Royle Family, Father Ted, Drop The Dead Donkey and Have I Got News For You.

Peter Bennett-Jones, chairman of Tiger Aspect, said: "Geoffrey was one of the kindest, much-loved and uniquely talented people we knew. He genuinely made the world a funnier-place. It is an absolute tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time."

Witnesses said Mr Perkins may have fainted and stumbled into the path of the lorry close to his home. The driver was breathalysed before being released.

Also a writer and performer, Mr Perkins began his career on the radio shows Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. He was head of BBC comedy between 1995 and 2001.

He was married to studio manager Lisa Braun, with whom he had two children.

An inquest was due to open today at Westminster coroner's court.