Teletubbies actor Simon Shelton Barnes fled to Merseyside for a ‘normal life’ months before his death in a bid to ‘escape temptation’ down south.
The actor moved to the Wirral after becoming ‘disillusioned’ at home in Ampthill, Bedfordshire and wanting to avoid the party lifestyle.
However after moving to Merseyside just last year Mr Barnes was last week found ‘frozen to death’ on a Liverpool street.
The 52-year-old’s family and friends are now desperately trying to find out what went wrong in the final weeks of his life.
Former Teletubbies actor Simon Barnes (pictured) moved to the Wirral, Merseyside in a bid to ‘escape temptation’ of partying down south
Jane Rees, who took Simon in when he moved to the Wirral, said that his three kids were ‘everything to him’ and he struggled being apart from them, the Sun reports.
Mr Barnes became ‘disillusioned’ at home in Ampthill, Bedfordshire and moved to Merseyside last year for a fresh start
She claimed that he was looking for a new direction in life with a fresh start and career. Although she believes that he wasn’t tempted by alcohol but was enticed by socialising and partying.
Mr Barnes lived with Ms Rees before moving in with his ex-wife’s cousin Judith Traynon.
The actor starred as Tinky Winky between 1998 and 2001 in the hit series the Teletubbies.
Nikky Smedley, who played yellow Teletubby Laa-Laa, said that on set Mr Barnes was ‘always smiling’ and a ‘family man’.
She said he was also incredibly professional and wonderful company as well as being a fantastic dancer.
She added: ‘When you’re filming those long days and you have down time it can be difficult but Simon would always have games to play when you were waiting for the rain to stop.
A revival tour in 2007 was the last time Nikky worked with Simon but the pair kept in contact on social media.
The actor starred as Tinky Winky between 1998 and 2001 in the hit series the Teletubbies
Nikky Smedley who played yellow Teletubby Laa-Laa said that said Mr Barnes was incredibly professional and wonderful company as well as being a fantastic dancer
Although Mr Barnes appeared to love being on the massively popular children’s programme Jane Rees said that being away from his family was an issue for him.
Jane, who is best friends with Simon’s ex-wife Emma Robbins, said: ‘His children were everything to him.’
Mr Barnes has two children with his ex-wife Emma Robbins, Lydia (pictured) and son Henry
She also denied that he had a drinking problem and had just been excited to get into a normal job and have a normal life.
However contradictory claims from former neighbours of Mr Barnes suggested that he had struggled addiction to alcohol.
One resident told the Sun that he was battling his demons and had a problem with drink and that moving away to Merseyside was a fresh start to sort himself out.
Another local added: ‘He liked a drink. I saw him staggering back home from the town centre.’
Mr Barnes had two children with actress Emma Robbins, daughter Lydia and son Henry.
Former neighbours described them as a ‘lovely couple’ but they split when Mr Barnes met a woman named Samantha who he had a son with, Finley, five.
Mr Barne’s body was found around 7.30am on January 17 and police were called to the Mann Island area of Liverpool.
Locals told the Mirror: ‘We don’t know many details, but we understand he collapsed in the street and possibly died of hypothermia.’
Tinky Winky is withdrawn from Toy Fair following news of actor’s death
An actor dressed as Tinky Winky was photographed at The London Toy Fair trade show at Olympia in Kensington yesterday, alongside another as Po.
But a spokesman for the fair told MailOnline: ‘Having been made aware of the actor Simon Shelton, who played Tinky Winky in the Teletubbies, passing away, Toy Fair has liaised with the relevant licensors and have agreed to withdraw the Tinky Winky character out of respect for the rest of the fair.’
An actor dressed as Tinky Winky was seen yesterday at The London Toy Fair at Olympia, which has 260 exhibiting companies showcasing products to industry professionals