A comedy composer best known for his work on Spitting Image has died aged 66.
Steve Brown’s agent confirmed he had died from lung disease over the weekend.
The composer was known for writing songs for TV series Spitting Image and his collaboration with Steve Coogan and Lenny Henry.
During his career, Brown played fictional bandleader Glenn Ponder in Steve Coogan’s Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge.
He was also a cast member of BBC Radio 4’s comedy sketch series In One Ear, from 1984 to 1986.
Announcing his death, Brown’s agent Vivienne Clore wrote on X: ‘Devastated to share the news that our much loved client Steve Brown has passed away.
‘Sod fibrosis lung disease.’
Following his work on In One Ear, Brown went on to write many of the songs for the satirical comedy show Spitting Image in the late 1980s and the entirety of the 1990s.
In 1995, he composed the music for The Ant & Dec Show on Children’s BBC, and later worked on their SMTV Live programme, for which he wrote the ‘Wonky Donkey’ jingle, among other themes.
He continued to work extensively as a jingle writer for their ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway.
What is fibrosis lung disease?
According to the NHS, fibrosis lung disease, also known as pulmonary fibrosis, is when scarring appears on the lungs and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.
Symptoms can includes shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough and tiredness.
Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there’s currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs.
The composer also worked on shows including Lee Mack’s Not Going Out, The Brian Conley Show, New Tricks and Lenny Henry Goes to Town.
He also wrote songs for BBC Children’s TV shows Playaway and Play School, as well as the ITV series My Parents Are Aliens.
On the stage, Brown composed the score and co-wrote the book and lyrics of the West End musical Spend Spend Spent, as well as I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical.
Brown is survived by sons, comedian Alfie Brown and musician Lenny Brown, as well as actress wife Deborah Cornelius and stepdaughter Manon.
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