Bernard Hill, the stage, television and film actor who first became famous for his unforgettable portrayal of Yosser “gizza job” Hughes, has died at the age of 79.

Hill played the character in Alan Bleasdale’s 1982 BBC series Boys from the Blackstuff.

It helped launch a stellar career that included playing the captain of the Titanic in James Cameron’s 1997 film, and Théoden, king of Rohan, in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy.