Newsreader and Treasure Hunt presenter Kenneth Kendall dies aged 88

Newsreader Kenneth Kendall, known to many for his role Treasure Hunt, has died aged 88.

He died in hospital in Newport on the Isle of Wight today.

He had suffered a stroke in recent weeks and never recovered, according to his agent, Jeremy Hicks, who confirmed his death.

Kendall was the first newsreader to appear in vision on BBC television in 1955.

Having joined the BBC as a radio announcer in 1948, Kendall moved into television in 1954 and, after a spell as a freelance broadcaster in the 1960s, he rejoined the BBC to front the Nine O'Clock news in 1975.

In 1981 he left the BBC to join Channel 4's Treasure Hunt in which he directed "skyrunner" Anneka Rice through helicopter challenges around the country.

He worked on the popular gameshow until 1989.

Presenter Wincy Willis paid tribute to him on Twitter: "Kenneth Kendall was a lovely man, very kind to me when I started Treasure Hunt we were good friends. He was funny and we both loved dogs RIP."

Kendall was born in India and lived in Cornwall as a child. He worked as a schoolmaster and later a captain in the Coldstream Guards during World War Two, sustaining a D-Day injury.

He worked as an actor for a repertory company and also appeared in 1966 Doctor Who series The War Machines and had a cameo role as a newsreader in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Kendall was voted most popular newsreader by Daily Mirror readers in 1979. Known for his sartorial panache, he was also the recipient of a best-dressed newsreader Style International Award.

In later life Kendall moved to Cowes on the Isle of Wight with his partner Mark Fear, where he owned an art gallery and kept bees. His last television appearance was in 2010 BBC programme The Young Ones.