TRIBUTES were paid this week to Leslie Phillips after the Carry On! star passed away aged 98.

The Spurs supporter was born in Tottenham but was for many years a well-known face around his home neighbourhood of Maida Vale.

He often strayed happily towards Camden Town and could be spotted in some of the quieter pubs around our offices in NW1.

In fact back in the 2008 we photographed him around the table tennis set in the garden of the Old Eagle pub in Royal College Street as he picked up a bat and took part in a charity tournament.

He impressed with a dynamic backhand and then returned to his drink – the actor seem game for a laugh and approachable despite his fame.

Phillips, famous for playing suave “ladies man” characters and being the voice of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films, became known for his winky catchphrases like “hel-llo!” and “ding dong!”.

But he also had a body of more serious work which sometimes went forgotten including appearances in films like Scandal and Empire Of The Sun.

Both are worth a revisit.

His widow, Zara Carr, said she had “lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman”.