Alert – Beloved 1970s children’s TV star dies aged 77 after a long health battle – News Alerts

Beloved children’s TV star Steve Hodson has died at the age of 77 after a long illness.

The British actor memorably starred as horseman Steve Ross in the much-loved children’s TV show Follyfoot, and also appeared in All Creatures Great and Small.

His death was announced by a Follyfoot fan page on Facebook, who confirmed his daughter Jessica had been in touch with the sad news.

The post said Hodson passed away after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a progressive lung disease which makes it difficult to breathe.

It read: ‘We have had a very sad update from Steve Hodson’s daughter Jessica. Steve passed away last night after a long battle with COPD.

‘That’s one brighter star you’ll see in the heavens from now on. Much love to all his family at this awful time. So sad.’

Beloved children’s TV star Steve Hodson, best known for starring in Follyfoot (pictured), has died at the age of 77 after a long illness

Fans were quick to take to the comments section to praise the TV star for bringing audiences so much joy as they paid tribute to him.

Comments included: ‘Sleep easy, Steve. You gave us so much enjoyment. Sincerest condolences to Steve’s dear ones’;

‘Such sad news. Follyfoot was my favourite series back in my school days. I have all the DVDs of the series. RIP Steve’;

‘RIP Steve. You bought joy to many people’; ‘The love of my youth!! Sleep easy’; ‘Such sad news of a great actor’;

‘Oh my gosh…. Sad news indeed. So him and Ron gone now. I used to kind of fancy Steve on Follyfoot’;

‘That’s very sad news. Watched 2 Follyfoot episodes last week, where Steve goes in search of his Mother. Some fine acting. Condolences to his family and friends, so sad.’

Follyfoot, recognised for its famous theme song The Lightning Tree, follows three young people working at a horse rescue centre.

It ran for three series from 1971 until 1973 and Hodson starred alongside Gillian Blake, Arthur English, Christian Rodska and Desmond Llewelyn, among others.

It was inspired by the 1963 Monica Dickens novel Cobbler’s Dream and attracted up to 14million viewers of all ages, despite being billed as a children’s TV show.

WHAT IS CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) describes a group of lung conditions that cause the airways to narrow and become inflamed.

Examples include bronchitis, which affects the airways, and emphysema, which impacts the air sacs.

This makes it harder to move air in and out as you breathe.

Around 1.2million people in the UK are diagnosed with COPD, British Lung Foundation statistics show.

And in the US, 16million people suffer from COPD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It usually develops due to long-term damage to the lungs from smoking or air pollution.

Jobs where people are exposed to fumes, dust and chemicals also raise the risk.

COPD also seems to run in families.

And a rare genetic condition called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency makes people susceptible at a very young age.

Symptoms include:

Breathlessness during day-to-day activities, like walking
Persistent cough
Wheezing in cold weather
Producing excess phlegm

In severe cases, sufferers lose their appetite, have swollen ankles, lose weight and may even cough up blood.

COPD is incurable and the damage to the lungs cannot be reversed.

However, treatments can help make breathing easier.

Patients should also quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight.