Strictly Come Dancing icon – who also worked on Parkinson – dies aged 86 after battling a short illness

A Strictly Come Dancing legend has passed away after battling a short illness aged 86, it has been confirmed today.

Musical director Laurence Holloway’s family announced the sad news of his death following a successful career behind the scenes in the TV industry.

Laurence – who also worked on Michael Parkinson’s hugely popular chat show -started off his career as a pianist in dance bands.

The English composer’s passing was confirmed by his granddaughter Abigail Holloway in a statement on Thursday.

Laurence worked with many of the greats during his illustrious career, including Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Tom Jones, Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli.

He also worked with Sammy Davis Jr, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mel Torme, Bob Monkhouse, Barry Humphries and Ronnie Corbett along with his late wife Marion Montgomery.

Marion, who was an American jazz singer, became a household name in the 1960s when she was a resident singer on Parkinson.

The singer lived in England for more than 30 years prior to her death and met Laurence when he was working on the show as a musical director.

She passed away aged 67 in Bray, Berkshire in 2002. 

Laurence acted as the musical director for the first three series of Strictly Come Dancing from 2004. In 2013, Holloway became an MBE for services to music.

At his investiture ceremony, he told the late Queen of the time he played piano for her and Princess Margaret at Buckingham Palace, and recorded nursery rhymes for the Queen Mother’s 90th birthday.

‘I don’t think she remembered, but I reminded her,’ he said.

Holloway is also known for composing TV theme tunes including for Cilla Black game show Blind Date, game show Game For A Laugh and hidden camera programme Beadle’s About.

He received a gold badge from the Ivors Academy in 1993, when the body was known as the British Academy of Songwriters Composers and Authors (BASCA).

The composer also contributed to the recording of Petula Clark’s 1960s hit Downtown.

Holloway is survived by his daughters, Karon and Abigail and three grandsons Freddie, Henry and Alfie.