Stephen Lewis, On the Buses’ Blakey, dies in London, aged 88

THE actor Stephen Lewis, who played the dictatorial inspector ‘Blakey’ in 70s sitcom On the Buses, has died aged 88. 

Lewis also featured in the BBC’s well-loved Sunday night sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, between 1988 until 2007, as Clem ‘Smiler’ Hemmingway.

A statement from his family said he had passed away peacefully in an East London nursing home, early on Wednesday morning (August 12).

On the Buses ran from 1969 to 1973, and Blakey’s often-repeated line ‘I’ll get you Butler!’ – as he was once again outfoxed by his archenemy, the crafty bus driver played by Reg Varney – was one of the series’ most memorable phrases.

A follow up set in Spain, called Don’t Drink the Water, also featured Lewis as Blakey, the luckless character having retired to the Costas with his sister.