Lionel Jeffries; Actor

Lionel Jeffries, who has died aged 83, was one of the great comic characters of British cinema, throwing himself with gusto and conviction into whatever ridiculous role he might be playing, whether it was the eccentric Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) or the jewel thief who disguises himself as the new headmistress in Blue Murder at St Trinian’s (1957).