Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters A beloved children's TV star died at the age of 71, not long after being told he had months to live due to a prostate cancer diagnosis. Freddy Marks, who regularly featured on iconic children's show Rainbow, passed away in May 2021 , having reportedly spent a few days in hospital with pneumonia. At the time, a poignant tribute was shared in a Facebook fan group dedicated to the long-standing series.
The post read: "It is with a heavy heart that we sad to say that "Freddy Marks" from Rod, Jane and Freddy has sadly passed away yesterday. Freddy was a very talented and funny guy who always bought a smile to everybody's face. Our thoughts go out to his wife Jane Tucker, Rod Burton and all their friends and family at this difficult time.
Freddy will be greatly missed." Freddy joined Rainbow – the UK's answer to American children's TV show Sesame Street – in 1981, and along with Rod Burton and Jane Tucker, became part of the memorable musical trio Rod, Jane and Freddy, eventually branching out into their own show. In a romantic twist of fate, Freddy and Jane tied the knot in 2016 after 30 years together – despite Jane's former marriage to Rod – with the couple saying 'I do' at the prestigious Claridge's Hotel in London.
Yet their relationships meant the trio were .