The respected character actor and chart-topping singer known for his number one hit single: Only You with the 'a cappella' group The Flying Pickets has died, aged 65, after a lengthy fight with prostate cancer...

Following a successful music career in the 80s the performer developed a highly successful acting career appearing in a number of major televisions series including: Coronation Street, Eastenders, The Bill, Casualty, Heartbeat, Holby City, Minder, Dr Who and many other UK series, as well as Welsh language programmes such as the soap opera Pobol Y Cwm.

Prominent film parts were also prevalent such as Revolver written by Luc Besson and starring Ray Liotta and Jason Statham.

As well as tributes from the world of entertainment including Welsh actor Jonathan Owen who appears with Hibbard in the forthcoming film Svengali, charity tributes have also been forthcoming...

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Brian Hibbard he was a fantastic ambassador for charity and cancer support. We're sending our best wishes to his family and friends at this difficult time" a statement from the Welsh charity Tenovus said.

The charity Tenovus campaigns for cancer prevention treatments as well as care and support services.

Brian Hibbard supported a number of charities and was a patron for the Jamie Adamson Memorial Fund.

The charity was set up for a five-year-old boy who died in 2004 after contracting meningitis. The boy was three years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia...

The singer was an ardent supporter of the Miner’s Strike in the early 80s, which the band-name Flying Pickets was a homage to.

Hibbard from Ebbw Vale has also received tributes form Ebbw Vale Rugby Club, singer Pete Wylie and Richard Vaughan, of Cardiff Blues Choir and Big Talent school at Wales Millennium Centre amongst others.