Actor Gerald Harper, who had a 42-year-age gap relationship with actress Sarah Alexander in the 90s, has died aged 96. His agents confirmed the news with a post on social media. "It is with great sadness that Gerald Harper has recently passed away - he was a valued client before he went to Spain to enjoy his retirement," CDM Talent Agency wrote. His cause or place of death was not disclosed.

Gerald first found fame starring in the BBC adventure drama Adam Adamant Lives! which ran from 1966 until 1967. When that ended he took on the main role in ITV's Hadleigh which enjoyed a seven-year run from 1969 to 1976. He also had an illustrious stage career working on Broadway with the Old Vic company, playing Iago at the Bristol Old Vic and Benedick at the Chichester Festival Theatre. He also starred innumerous West End shows, including Crucifer of Blood and A Personal Affair at the Haymarket Theatre.

Alongside his work on stage and screen he lent his dulcet tones to the airwaves presenting The Sunday Affair for Capital Radio in the 1970s. He also hosted a series of Saturday afternoon shows for BBC Radio 2 in the early 1990s, in which he played classic songs and gave away bottles of champagne and chocolates.

In the mid-90s he hit the headlines thanks to his huge age gap relationship with Coupling and Green Wing star Sarah Alexander, now 54. The couple were first spotted together in 1996 when Sarah was at the height of her fame.

Despite the 42-year age gap a source who spotted them together told the Sunday People at the time: "They were super-glued together! They were all over each other and didn't care who saw them. Funnily enough, the young lady was making a lot of the running and kept grabbing him to French kiss him - it was quite a display." He was said to be "absolutely bereft" when they broke up after Sarah left him for Amandaland star Peter Serafinowicz in 2002.

The relationship with Sarah came over a decade after his divorce from his second wife Carla Rabaiotti, a former Pan American air stewardess. They married in 1975 and divorced in 1983. They share one son. Prior to that union he had been married to English actress Jane Downs from 1957 until 1975.

Fans rushed to pay tribute as the news broke taking to Facebook to share their condolences. "Lovely actor. Loved him in Hadleigh but played some [other] good parts as well RIP xx," one wrote. "Adam Adamant Lives! Loved it. He was the epitome of an English gent. RIP sir," another added.

"I watched him star in the 1960 film classic 'League of Gentlemen', only last week and I noticed from the list of actors in that film, he was the last surviving, and sadly he's now departed," a third chimed in.

A fourth revealed: "What an adorable man. Used to go to London 50 odd years ago just to see him in plays at the theatre. RIP Gerald Harper xx." A fifth shared: "So Sad to hear this, used to listen to Gerald Harper's Sunday Affair on the radio years ago." Meanwhile a sixth penned: "RIP Loved him in Adam Adamant and other shows, great actor RIP X."