The Snowman creator John Coates has died

The Snowman producer John Coates has died of cancer while working on an updated version of the well-loved Christmas animation.

Coates, who was in his eighties, had been working three days a week with some of the original production team in London on the 1982 classic.

He was responsible for persuading the newly established Channel 4 to turn Raymond Brigg’s children’s book The Snowman into a film.

To mark its 30 year anniversary Channel 4 has confirmed it will screen the updated version at Christmas.

The Snowman is the story of a little boy who wakes up to discover his snowman has come to life. They journey together, flying through snowy landscapes, to meet other snowmen and Santa Claus himself.

The theme tune ‘I’m Walking in the Air’ was famously covered by Welsh treble singer Aled Jones.