Brian Murphy’s wife, Linda Regan, revealed her hope in an emotional tribute to their close friend Norman Eshley following his death at the age of 80

Norman Eshley and Brian Murphy in George and Mildred(Image: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock)

Linda Regan has candidly shared her heartache after the death of close friend Norman Eshley. The George and Mildred actor died at the age of 80 on August 2 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with his wife by his side. He had been diagnosed with cancer.

Hi-De-Hi star Linda, who was married to Norman’s co-star Brian Murphy, has emotionally revealed the hurt she feels following Norman’s death, which comes just six months after Brian died aged 92. She tearfully said: “I can’t bear it. I just can’t believe that they’ve both gone in the same year.

“Norman did the eulogy at Brian’s funeral and he was in great form, he seemed to be in great form.”

Brian Murphy, Yootha Joyce (George & Mildred Roper), Nicholas Owen (Tristan Fourmile), Norman Eshley and Sheila Fearn (Jeffrey & Ann Fourmile)(Image: Getty Images)

The trio, as well as Norman’s wife Rachel, were very close and often met up while also being in regular contact on the telephone. “Brian and Norman would be on the phone for hours,” Linda said. “We met up regularly too because we did film festivals and I hosted the George and Mildred evenings. [We met up] as much as we could, really.”

Explaining the relationship between the two couples, Linda admitted the two couples were always in contact with each other, whether it was on the phone or meeting up.

She said the actors were “very, very close”. “We [herself, Brian, Norman and Rachel] just had so much fun.”

Linda, who is now a crime novelist, added: “Together Brian and Norman brought so much laughter to the world and they gave the world a legacy of laughter that will live on.

“Even though we’ve sadly lost them – and I’m broken hearted that we’ve lost them both – but we have a legacy of laughter that they’ve left the world and I hope they continue to make generation after generation happy because it’s a sad old world at the moment.”

With Norman’s death bringing back memories of her late husband’s passing, she told of her last moments with her beloved Brian, to whom she was married to for 35 years. “As he died I was singing to him,” she revealed.

“We had a little song together every night and I was singing it to him as I knew he was fading.

Brian Murphy and Linda Regan(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“And he was desperately trying to say I love you and I told him it’s okay to just rest now. My memories of Brian are beautiful and that’s all I’ve got to hang on to and I will hang on to that for the rest of my life.”

Linda emotionally added: “But losing Norman as well was very, very sad. I just hope they find each other in heaven.” And she admitted her biggest dream today is for the world to remember the pair’s legacy of laughter.

Following Norman’s death, Linda shared a touching tribute online. Taking to Twitter/X, she said: “RIP my dear dear friend. Brian will be there, you will have a friend.

“I will miss your friendship so very much but I promise to look after Rachel for you. My thoughts and love go out to all your friends and family. I loved working with you. You were a great actor and a lovely man.”

As well as appearing on George and Mildred together, Norman and Brian both starred in Man About the House.