Alexei Sayle with Wilf Mbanga

COMEDY legend and TV presenter Alexei Sayle has announced the death of his cat, Wilf Mbanga.

Named after the Zimbabwean political exile and journalist, the striking Maine Coone reached 18 years old.

In a social media post, Mr Sayle said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of friend and son Wilf Mbanga (the cat). He lived a pleasant and comfortable 18 years. Everyone who met him had their lives enriched. Pass into this good night, Wilf. Thank you for your service to the cause. There’s a good cat.”

In 2013 Mr Sayle contacted the Extra’s sister paper the Camden New Journal after Wilf Mbanga – an indoor-only cat – escaped out of the front door of his home in Doughty Street, Bloomsbury.

Mr Sayle and his wife Linda had been putting up posters on lampposts during a desperate three weeks.

The newspaper contacted the real Wilf Mbanga about the cat, who said he was “tickled pink” to learn of his namesake. But he said he could not join the search as he was “allergic to cats”.

Wilf was finally found in Prince Albert Road, Primrose Hill, the bedraggled cat cowering on a doorstep. He had somehow managed to cross Euston Road during his time on the run.

Mr Sayle, who was celebrating his 61st birthday the day the cat was found, said the ordeal had “put 10 years on me”.

He later created a comedy sketch about his cat, the real Wilf Mbanga and the newspaper’s intervention in his Imaginary Sandwich Bar show on the BBC.