Composer Laurence Holloway Dies at 86

Laurence Holloway, a celebrated musical director known for his work on Strictly Come Dancing and Michael Parkinson's chat show, has died at the age of 86 after a 'short illness', as confirmed by his daughter Abigail. Holloway's illustrious career included collaborations with music legends like Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Tom Jones, and Judy Garland, and he served as the musical director for the first three seasons of Strictly Come Dancing starting in 2004. He was honored with an MBE in 2013 for his contributions to music and fondly recalled performing for the late Queen and Princess Margaret at Buckingham Palace. Notably, Holloway composed theme tunes for iconic TV shows, including Blind Date and Beadle's About. He is survived by his daughters, Karon and Abigail, and three grandsons. His late wife, American jazz singer Marion Montgomery, passed away in 2002.