A GREAT-GRANDAD famous for his appearance on TV show Blind Date has died.

George Simpson, from Redcar, appeared on the show in 1997, when he was aged 73.

Mr Simpson served as a rear gunner in the RAF during the Second World War, and once had his courageous actions recreated for TV.

He became a household name when he appeared as the eligible bachelor on TV’s Blind Date. His wife, Nancy, had died 18 months before.

His son, Harry Simpson, was the one who came up with the idea. He said: “I saw an advert in the paper and I said to my dad, why don’t you go along and do it? He asked me if he was allowed and I said of course, if you want to, and that was that.

“He was actually quite a shy man until you got a couple of pints in him. On the day the producer spotted him backstage looking a bit nervous and suggested he have a drink, but my dad said no, he wanted to do it sober.”

Mr Simpson was an instant TV hit, charming audiences as well as his date, Esmee Van-Boyd, with whom he shared a trip to Verona, in Italy. Sadly she lived too far away to continue the relationship afterwards but they stayed friends and swapped Christmas cards every year.

Harry added: “He was very fun loving man and loved sports. He was mad about the Boro, and always wildly optimistic about their chances."

Mr Simpson died from pneumonia last Thursday, April 18, at James Cook University Hospital, aged 89. He had been in remission following treatment for lung cancer.

He is survived by his two children, three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.