With his star rising steadily, he died suddenly of a heart attack, alone at home. Adored by the general public, his death was one of the most shocking losses to British comedy of the late seventies, and since then there has never been an actor with the same innocent charm as Richard Beckinsale. Nor did his popularity wane after his untimely death: repeats of the classic sitcoms Porridge and Rising Damp would keep his memory alive throughout the ensuing three decades.

The Richard Beckinsale Story is an uplifting, but ultimately sad, tale of the life and death of a great talent. It is the compelling story of a man destined for greatness, but ultimately cut down in his prime.