Maidstone-educated Ali Bongo, the magician who was the inspiration for the outlandish Adam Klaus in TV's Jonathan Creek mysteries, has died.

Born William Wallace on December 29, 1929, in India, he was a direct descendent of the Scots warrior.

His father was a regimental sergeant major and on returning to England the young Wallace was sent to Sutton Valence public school near Maidstone.

His father took a post as head of the Officer Training Corps.

At the age of 17, Wallace travelled around Kent giving magical shows at birthday parties and from that small beginning he carved himself an enviable reputation, working with such notable performers as David Nixon, Paul Daniels and Uri Geller.

In 2008 he was elected president of the Magic Circle and helped to run the Young Magicians' Club where he passed on his tricks f the trade.

At the beginning of February, he collapsed while giving a lecture in Paris. He was taken to hospital where he suffered a stroke.

He later returned to the UK and was cared for at St Thomas' Hospital where he died on Sunday.