The children’s entertainer had been battling cancer, and died at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Monday, surrounded by close friends and family.
Andy’s sister Tessa said that he ‘lived to be loved and to make people laugh, starting with me, his little sister’.
‘He had a quicksilver brain, a rebellious attitude, boundless compassion particularly for the underdog, unstinting levels of generosity and, of course, a passion for mashed potato.’
‘I adored him and, long before he found fame, was immensely proud to have the funniest, cleverest big brother in the universe.’
So sad to hear that kids TV legend Andy Cunningham (aka Bodger) has died. We can never eat mashed potato without thinking of you ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dcchcFWth2
— CBBC (@cbbc) June 7, 2017
CBBC paid tribute to Andy online, tweeting a message which read: ‘So sad to hear that kids TV legend Andy Cunningham (aka Bodger) has died. We can never eat mashed potato without thinking of you ❤️ ❤️ ❤️’
Fans have also taken to social media to pay their respects, with many crediting him for helping to create some of their favourite childhood memories.
‘Bodger and Badger was such a huge part of my childhood, RIP Andy Cunningham. Wherever you are I hope it’s free of mash potato’ one said, with another adding: ‘Sad to hear about the passing of #AndyCunningham I used to love Bodger and Badger as a kid.’
‘Sad news loved watching this show and thought Andy was a very talented bloke. RIP x mark #mashedpotatolegend,’ a third agreed.
Andy shot to fame in the role of Simon Bodger with his sidekick Badger, whom he also voiced, in the popular BBC show, which first aired in 1989.
