John Inman

I was woken today by a call from a colleague at work to advise me that John Inman had died. Now you may find this strange, not exactly ground-breaking news, but I will explain. At work we have a deadpool, I think I have mentioned it before. Basically we each pick a group of celebrities and pay some money and whoever's celebritiy dies first gets the money. John Inman was one of my celebrities.
Now many of you will think that this is "not on" or even down-right evil! I don't.
I have a healthy respect for death having experienced it constantly throughout my life.
The religious among you will tell me that I'm going to hell (well I'm a poof, so apparently I'm going there anyway, so I may as well make sure I get a limo ride there when I eventually go!!).

I am, though, very saddened by John's death, as I believe he was a pioneer and a good role model for gay men. Yes, he was a camp stereotype when he played Mr Humphreys in Are You Being Served, but he was accepted and became one of the first mainstream gay characters to appear on British television. From what I gather, he was a fun-loving man with a long-term partner with whom he had had a civil partnership ceremony. He is internationally famous having achieved success in the US and in Australia (mainly with AYBS) and constantly appeared in pantomime as a dame (and was apparently one of the best).

John will be missed.