Heartbroken David Baddiel has announced that his dad Colin, who was born in Swansea, has died.
The comedian and author said his loss "leaves a huge hole in my sky".
He had highlighted his dad's battle with dementia for a number of years and had called for the "epidemic" of dementia as a killer of older people to be given more public attention.
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Announcing his father's death on Wednesday, he wrote: "My dad Colin Baddiel died earlier tonight. Thanks so much to all of you who sent unbelievably lovely messages about him in response to all my posts over the years. He leaves a huge hole in my sky. Thanks so much for all your incredible messages of support. It all so helps.
"I'd like to also thank while I'm here @bowles_clive, Sandra Wiseman and all the other amazing carers who helped look after my dad for the last seven years."
Piers Morgan replied: "Oh no. So sorry to hear this, David. He seemed such a wonderful character and I loved your relationship. RIP Colin."
John Bishop said: "David I am so sorry for your loss. I felt I knew your father from the way you have spoken about him. I wish you and the family all the best at this very sad time ."
While Richard K Herring said: "Very sorry to hear that David, but amazing photo perfectly encapsulating joy and madness of being a dad. RIP."
Colin had suffered from Pick's disease - a rare type of dementia that can see sufferers become sexually disinhibited and prone to swearing and rude behaviour.
In 2017, David made a documentary called The Trouble With Dad because "there must be a wider dialogue about the disease".
Baddiel told the Radio Times at the time: "There is no situation where it is straightforwardly OK to put someone on camera who is not totally informed about it due to dementia, as is the case here. But the alternative is that nobody ever talks about this, and we must. It's an epidemic - the largest killer of older people, bigger than cancer. We must bring that into the light."
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