ENTERTAINER Stan Stennett has died, aged 88.

The performer joined the The Black and White Minstrel Show in the 1960s and worked with Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Ronnie Corbett, Jimmy Young, Jon Pertwee and Joan Turner.

He also worked with some of America's biggest stars such as Billy Daniels, Johnny Ray, James Cagney and the Deep River Boys.

And he regularly worked in Gwent, particularly in pantomimes. Over recent years, he performed in Dick Whittington at Newport's Dolman Theatre, in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in Monmouth, and Billy and Bonzo Meet Dick Whittington in Ebbw Vale.

He featured in Newport Council’s In Town Without My Car Day campaign in September 2003 and helped raise funds for the tsunami relief appeal across Gwent throughout 2005.

He died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, three weeks after suffering a stroke.

His career started during the Second World War, when he played guitar in a jazz quintet. On being demobbed, he formed a comedy musical trio and toured with Max Miller.

In Coronation Street he played Hilda Ogden’s brother Norman Crabtree in 1976 and Sid Hooper in Crossroads from 1982 until 1986.

He also served as manager of the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury when his friend Eric Morecambe died there after having a heart attack in May 1984.

He was awarded an MBE in 1979 for services to theatre and charity.