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Daughter's heartbreaking tribute to Tinky Winky actor, 52, found "frozen to death" in the street at 7.30am
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Ubiquitous
Jan 24, 2018, 12:56:09 PM1/24/18
to
The daughter of the actor who played Tinky Winky in the BBC's
Teletubbies has paid tribute to 'most beautiful man in the world'
following his death aged 52.
Simon Shelton Barnes, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, had trained as
a ballet dancer and choreographer before taking on the role from
1998 to 2001 as the purple character who carried a 'magic bag' in
the children's show.
After the father-of-three's death, his make-up artist daughter Lydia
Barnes said: 'I love you so much dad. Always have, always will. The
most beautiful man in the world. Forever in my heart.'
Mr Barnes was found last Wednesday at 7.30am having died of
hypothermia after collapsing on the streets of Liverpool in the Mann
Island area of the city.
Tributes were also paid yesterday by his former flatmate Judith
Tynan, the cousin of his ex-wife Emma Robbins, who lived with him on
the Wirral in Merseyside for the final year of his life.
She told MailOnline: 'I'm very floored at losing him, he was just
the best company. He was just the best person to live with and we
got on terribly well.
'I'm gobsmacked at losing him. He was charming and handsome and
delicate and so lovely to be around. He wasn't difficult, he was
pleasurable and a delicate man.'
She said the Teletubbies was his 'pièce de résistance' and they
'laughed a lot about it because it was silly and he used to tell me
that costume weighed 60lbs'.
Ms Tynan continued: 'It was a big to-do to wear it because it was
just a big thing, but it made him - it made his life and put him on
the map.
'It was a very good time in his life and he was privileged to have
been part of that success, I think. I think it worked for him.
'If you're famous everybody knows your face - but they didn't know
his face, but he had a big time of it, and it worked. And he had a
good living from it.'
Ms Tynan said he had gone into photography in recent year, adding:
'He was a handsome chap; very good looking.
'I used to say to him every morning, 'Goodness Simon, how do you
look so good? He was just a very good looking chap. He was a great
flatmate.'
She insisted that she and Barnes were not a couple but just 'very,
very good friends - and everybody used to think we were a couple,
but we weren't'.
Merseyside Police confirmed to MailOnline that officers were called
to reports that a man had died in the Mann Island area of Liverpool
last Wednesday.
One man in Ampthill who knew Mr Barnes said: 'He was a talented
photographer. We understand he collapsed in the street and possibly
died of hypothermia.'
On Monday, John Simmit, who was Dipsy in the show, tweeted: 'What a
week! RIP Simon Shelton aka Tinky Winky: remembering the many good
times. Rest easy.
'Lots of messaging between cast and crew as we became a tight bunch
over six years on location. We'll give him an appropriate send off
in a couple of weeks.'
Today, his flatmate Judith Tynan (above) paid tribute to the
'charming and handsome' actor
+19
Today, his flatmate Judith Tynan (above) paid tribute to the
'charming and handsome' actor
The post by Simmit, who is now a stand-up comedian, was retweeted by
Po actress Pui Fan Lee, who now presents the CBeebies programme Show
Me, Show Me.
Barnes, whose character was known for carrying the red bag, was the
brother-in-law of Poldark actor Robert Daws and uncle of
Inbetweeners star Emily Atack.
Atack, who played Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the E4 comedy, said: 'My
wonderful uncle Simon Barnes has been taken from us all so
suddenly.'
She wrote in an Instagram post that he was the 'kindest and most
talented man you could ever wish to meet', adding: 'Loved by all who
knew him, and will be forever.'
Simmit, Pui and Barnes appeared in the show - whose characters had
the catchphrase 'Eh Oh!' - alongside Nikky Smedley, who played Laa
Laa.
Barnes was initially reluctant to take on the role that led to him
being sent fan mail from adults as well as children and feeling like
a member of The Beatles.
He once said: 'I started my career as a ballet dancer and had just
started working as a choreographer. I thought it was a bit of a
risky move but it certainly paid off.
'We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kids and parents. I
suppose we were a bit like the Beatles or the Take That of
children's television.'
Also paying tribute to him was singer Paul McCartney's brother Mike
McGear, who is a second cousin of Barnes's former wife, actress Emma
Robbins.
Mr McGear wrote on Facebook: 'So sad to hear about Si. He was a
lovely lad… and will be dancing along Uncle Bills bar, knocking Mum
and Dad, Milly and Ginny, Mike and Betts drinks off, as we talk!
Love to you and kids from me and mine.'
And Barnes's son Henry said: 'I lost my lovely dad on Wednesday, he
was the kindest and most gentle man I knew and I love him more than
anything.
'I always used to be embarrassed as a child that he was a dancer and
an actor but now I couldn't be more proud.
'He is in a better place now and I know he wouldn't want me to be
sad, so I'm going to live my life the way he would want me to.'
His daughter Lydia Barnes added: 'I love you so much Dad... always
have, always will. The most beautiful man in the world. Forever in
my heart.'
And the CBeebies parenting Twitter feed tweeted: 'Very sad to hear
Teletubbies actor Simon Shelton who played Tinky Winky has passed
away! Tubby hugs.'
Barnes was not the original Tinky Winky in Teletubbies, although he
did play the character on the BBC Two show between 1998 and 2001.
His predecessor Dave Thompson, who is now a comedian, was allegedly
sacked by producers Ragdoll for 'misinterpreting' the role and
implying the Teletubby was gay.
Barnes said the sexuality of the character was a question he was
frequently asked because of Tinky Winky's penchant for hand bags.
'People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay,' he said. 'But the
character is supposed to be a three-year-old so the question is
really quite silly.'
He once became embroiled in a row over the sexuality of Tinky Winky,
who was accused of being a gay role model that could be morally
damaging to children.
Evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell said in 1999: 'He is purple – the
gay-pride colour; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle – the
gay-pride symbol.'
He also appeared in the BBC children's game show Incredible Games in
1994 and 1995, and was a featured dancer in the 1993 musical drama
film Swing Kids.
Teletubbies was watched by one billion children across more than 120
countries in 45 languages. It spawned a number one single,
Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!', in 1997.
Barnes recently posted on Facebook how he had spent Christmas Day
with friends on the Wirral in Merseyside.
Judith Tynan, with whom he spent Christmas, posted on Facebook last
Friday: 'Simon, I miss your company more than words can say.'
His family has asked mourners to 'wear bright colours' for his
funeral at Bedford Crematorium in a fortnight's time on February 7.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'We have confirmed some details
about the death of Simon Shelton Barnes.
'We were called to the Mann Island area of Liverpool on January 17
at about 7.30 in the morning to reports of a man being found
deceased.
'There are no suspicious circumstances, so anything else around this
tragedy we are referring to the coroners.'
--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.
Teletubbies has paid tribute to 'most beautiful man in the world'
following his death aged 52.
Simon Shelton Barnes, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, had trained as
a ballet dancer and choreographer before taking on the role from
1998 to 2001 as the purple character who carried a 'magic bag' in
the children's show.
After the father-of-three's death, his make-up artist daughter Lydia
Barnes said: 'I love you so much dad. Always have, always will. The
most beautiful man in the world. Forever in my heart.'
Mr Barnes was found last Wednesday at 7.30am having died of
hypothermia after collapsing on the streets of Liverpool in the Mann
Island area of the city.
Tributes were also paid yesterday by his former flatmate Judith
Tynan, the cousin of his ex-wife Emma Robbins, who lived with him on
the Wirral in Merseyside for the final year of his life.
She told MailOnline: 'I'm very floored at losing him, he was just
the best company. He was just the best person to live with and we
got on terribly well.
'I'm gobsmacked at losing him. He was charming and handsome and
delicate and so lovely to be around. He wasn't difficult, he was
pleasurable and a delicate man.'
She said the Teletubbies was his 'pièce de résistance' and they
'laughed a lot about it because it was silly and he used to tell me
that costume weighed 60lbs'.
Ms Tynan continued: 'It was a big to-do to wear it because it was
just a big thing, but it made him - it made his life and put him on
the map.
'It was a very good time in his life and he was privileged to have
been part of that success, I think. I think it worked for him.
'If you're famous everybody knows your face - but they didn't know
his face, but he had a big time of it, and it worked. And he had a
good living from it.'
Ms Tynan said he had gone into photography in recent year, adding:
'He was a handsome chap; very good looking.
'I used to say to him every morning, 'Goodness Simon, how do you
look so good? He was just a very good looking chap. He was a great
flatmate.'
She insisted that she and Barnes were not a couple but just 'very,
very good friends - and everybody used to think we were a couple,
but we weren't'.
Merseyside Police confirmed to MailOnline that officers were called
to reports that a man had died in the Mann Island area of Liverpool
last Wednesday.
One man in Ampthill who knew Mr Barnes said: 'He was a talented
photographer. We understand he collapsed in the street and possibly
died of hypothermia.'
On Monday, John Simmit, who was Dipsy in the show, tweeted: 'What a
week! RIP Simon Shelton aka Tinky Winky: remembering the many good
times. Rest easy.
'Lots of messaging between cast and crew as we became a tight bunch
over six years on location. We'll give him an appropriate send off
in a couple of weeks.'
Today, his flatmate Judith Tynan (above) paid tribute to the
'charming and handsome' actor
+19
Today, his flatmate Judith Tynan (above) paid tribute to the
'charming and handsome' actor
The post by Simmit, who is now a stand-up comedian, was retweeted by
Po actress Pui Fan Lee, who now presents the CBeebies programme Show
Me, Show Me.
Barnes, whose character was known for carrying the red bag, was the
brother-in-law of Poldark actor Robert Daws and uncle of
Inbetweeners star Emily Atack.
Atack, who played Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the E4 comedy, said: 'My
wonderful uncle Simon Barnes has been taken from us all so
suddenly.'
She wrote in an Instagram post that he was the 'kindest and most
talented man you could ever wish to meet', adding: 'Loved by all who
knew him, and will be forever.'
Simmit, Pui and Barnes appeared in the show - whose characters had
the catchphrase 'Eh Oh!' - alongside Nikky Smedley, who played Laa
Laa.
Barnes was initially reluctant to take on the role that led to him
being sent fan mail from adults as well as children and feeling like
a member of The Beatles.
He once said: 'I started my career as a ballet dancer and had just
started working as a choreographer. I thought it was a bit of a
risky move but it certainly paid off.
'We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kids and parents. I
suppose we were a bit like the Beatles or the Take That of
children's television.'
Also paying tribute to him was singer Paul McCartney's brother Mike
McGear, who is a second cousin of Barnes's former wife, actress Emma
Robbins.
Mr McGear wrote on Facebook: 'So sad to hear about Si. He was a
lovely lad… and will be dancing along Uncle Bills bar, knocking Mum
and Dad, Milly and Ginny, Mike and Betts drinks off, as we talk!
Love to you and kids from me and mine.'
And Barnes's son Henry said: 'I lost my lovely dad on Wednesday, he
was the kindest and most gentle man I knew and I love him more than
anything.
'I always used to be embarrassed as a child that he was a dancer and
an actor but now I couldn't be more proud.
'He is in a better place now and I know he wouldn't want me to be
sad, so I'm going to live my life the way he would want me to.'
His daughter Lydia Barnes added: 'I love you so much Dad... always
have, always will. The most beautiful man in the world. Forever in
my heart.'
And the CBeebies parenting Twitter feed tweeted: 'Very sad to hear
Teletubbies actor Simon Shelton who played Tinky Winky has passed
away! Tubby hugs.'
Barnes was not the original Tinky Winky in Teletubbies, although he
did play the character on the BBC Two show between 1998 and 2001.
His predecessor Dave Thompson, who is now a comedian, was allegedly
sacked by producers Ragdoll for 'misinterpreting' the role and
implying the Teletubby was gay.
Barnes said the sexuality of the character was a question he was
frequently asked because of Tinky Winky's penchant for hand bags.
'People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay,' he said. 'But the
character is supposed to be a three-year-old so the question is
really quite silly.'
He once became embroiled in a row over the sexuality of Tinky Winky,
who was accused of being a gay role model that could be morally
damaging to children.
Evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell said in 1999: 'He is purple – the
gay-pride colour; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle – the
gay-pride symbol.'
He also appeared in the BBC children's game show Incredible Games in
1994 and 1995, and was a featured dancer in the 1993 musical drama
film Swing Kids.
Teletubbies was watched by one billion children across more than 120
countries in 45 languages. It spawned a number one single,
Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!', in 1997.
Barnes recently posted on Facebook how he had spent Christmas Day
with friends on the Wirral in Merseyside.
Judith Tynan, with whom he spent Christmas, posted on Facebook last
Friday: 'Simon, I miss your company more than words can say.'
His family has asked mourners to 'wear bright colours' for his
funeral at Bedford Crematorium in a fortnight's time on February 7.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'We have confirmed some details
about the death of Simon Shelton Barnes.
'We were called to the Mann Island area of Liverpool on January 17
at about 7.30 in the morning to reports of a man being found
deceased.
'There are no suspicious circumstances, so anything else around this
tragedy we are referring to the coroners.'
--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.
Robin Miller
Jan 24, 2018, 2:14:45 PM1/24/18
to
http://extratv.com/2018/01/24/tragic-details-of-the-death-of-teletubbies-actor-simon-shelton-barnes/
--Robin
anim8rfsk
Jan 24, 2018, 2:20:20 PM1/24/18
to
In article <fcs494...@mid.individual.net>,
Well, if you live alone, and go walking in the dark in the cold...
--
Join your old RAT friends at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688985234647266/
--
Join your old RAT friends at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688985234647266/
Obveeus
Jan 24, 2018, 2:47:16 PM1/24/18
to
On 1/24/2018 2:14 PM, Robin Miller wrote:
> How does a non-homeless person freeze to death?
>
> http://extratv.com/2018/01/24/tragic-details-of-the-death-of-teletubbies-actor-simon-shelton-barnes/
person lying on the cement for the night. Such are the dangers of being
alone and/or in a place where people walk around fallen bodies rather
than checking on them.
Rhino
Jan 24, 2018, 3:42:29 PM1/24/18
to
I just checked the average temperatures in Liverpool and they vary
between 5C and 15C all year round, which is well above freezing.
Even the low temperatures in the chart don't go below freezing. The low
for January is 4C/39F.
http://www.holiday-weather.com/liverpool/averages/
Hmm. Wikipedia states a slightly lower average for January: 2.4C/36.3F
and says *record* lows that go well below zero. I suppose they could
have had an unseasonal freeze last week when this happened....
According to Wikipedia, hypothermia has a second cause, besides severe
cold:
==============
Hypothermia has two main types of causes. It classically occurs from
exposure to extreme cold.[1] It may also occur from any condition that
decreases heat production or increases heat loss.[1] Commonly this
includes alcohol intoxication but may also include low blood sugar,
anorexia, and advanced age.
==============
So maybe he was drunk, diabetic or anorexic? (I think we can rule out
advanced age: I don't think 52 counts.) He'd been a dancer as a younger
man so I suppose he could he have been anorexic but I'm guessing
drunkenness or low blood sugar are a lot more probable. Or maybe the
police/doctors goofed in assuming hypothermia....
--
Rhino
anim8rfsk
Jan 24, 2018, 4:14:27 PM1/24/18
to
Obveeus
Jan 24, 2018, 4:34:44 PM1/24/18
to
On 1/24/2018 4:14 PM, anim8rfsk wrote:
> In article <p4ar3l$nnb$1...@dont-email.me>,
> Rhino <no_offlin...@example.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2018-01-24 2:47 PM, Obveeus wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On 1/24/2018 2:14 PM, Robin Miller wrote:
>>>
>>>> How does a non-homeless person freeze to death?
>>>>
>>>> http://extratv.com/2018/01/24/tragic-details-of-the-death-of-teletubbies-ac
>>>> tor-simon-shelton-barnes/
>>>
>>>
>>> Heart attack, stroke, simply passing out drunk...whatever leaves a
Hypothermia. A person could easily die if their body temperature drops
even to 80 degrees F, so survival is dependent upon how well a body can
produce heat to offset the external elements. 50 degree F pavement
could easily cool off a body over time, and especially one which wasn't
regulating well to begin with.
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