70s TV star Steve Hodson who featured in beloved kids show Follyfoot & BBC’s All Creatures Great & Small dies aged 77

TV STAR Steve Hodson who featured on the beloved ’70s kids show Follyfoot has died aged 77.

The actor starred as horseman Steve Ross in the much-loved children’s show and also appeared in the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small.

Hodson also appeared on Crimewatch UK in 1985 as a bank robber in a reconstruction of a theft.

Much to his surprise, a number of people then reported him to the police thinking he was an actual thief.

His death was announced in a post on a Follyfoot Facebook group that read: “We have had a very sad update from Steve Hodson’s daughter Jessica.

“Steve passed away last night after a long battle with COPD.

“That’s one brighter star you’ll see in the heavens from now on.

“Much love to all his family at this awful time. So sad.”

Cherished TV series Follyfoot was inspired by the 1963 Monica Dickens novel Cobbler’s Dream and follows three young people working at a horse rescue centre.

Viewers watched on in awe as the trio would find themselves on adventures across the gorgeous countryside, with scenes filmed around the Harewood estate between Harrogate and Leeds.

Hodson had first interviewed for the role of Steve in Follyfoot in 1971 but was initially unsuccessful.

While another actor was employed, luck played into Hodson’s hands as they were later dismissed and he landed the part.

The show’s memorable theme song, The Lightning Tree performed by the Settlers, became a Top 40 hit single in the UK.

Steve found himself alongside Dora Maddocks, played by Gillian Blake, and the more rebellious Ron Stryker, played by Christian Rodska, after being unfairly sacked from the nearby stables of the local squire.

The horse rescue centre, owned by Dora’s uncle, played by the late-great Desmond Llewellyn, is a retirement home for unwanted or badly treated horses and acts as the central hub for the story lines.

Many viewers regarded Follyfoot as a more realistic and touching than the TV version of Black Beauty, which was running around the same time.

His success on all three series of the show’s run from 1971 to 1973 led to the formation of the Steve Hodson fan club.

This new-found fame propelled the multi-talented actor to also release a single called Crystal Bay in January 1973, written by the Bee Gees’ Maurice Gibb and songwriter Billy Lawrie.

‘YOU GAVE US SO MUCH ENJOYMENT’

Hodson was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on November 5, 1947, to Rene and Tom Hodson, and attended Belle Vue grammar school.

His acting career began after he won a place a the Central School of Speech and Drama in London while working as a civil servant in Bradford.

It was around this time he began learning to ride horses in Wimbledon, south-west London, where he was lodging with a family who owned stables.

Hodson made his debut in television as a hotel worker in a 1971 episode of Hine, which starred Barrie Ingham as an arms dealer.

He also had other appearances in early ’70s shows The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes and The Grievance.

After breaking through in Follyfoot, he continued acting on screen in character roles before eventually deciding to quit television for good.

Part of the reasoning behind his decision came from being mobbed by fans of the series in Sweden which made him feel the limelight was not quite right for his style.

He instead became a prolific member of BBC radio’s drama repertory company for almost 40 years, from 1975 to 2011.

The actor said: “It was nice being away from the cameras,” and he was in demand as a reader of audio books.

Tributes have poured in for Hodson following his death on 16 February.

One said: “Sleep easy, Steve. You gave us so much enjoyment.

“Sincerest condolences to Steve’s dear ones.”

Another added: “So very sorry to hear this.

“Steve helped make my childhood/teenage years bearable.

“I was horse mad! I met him briefly once, and owned his single.”

A third said: “So sorry to hear this – a big part of my TV childhood.

“His acting in the episodes when he tries to find his mum were top class – as I could relate so much to the story line.

“My memory of him is him and his mum arm in arm walking away together at the end of one of the episodes – my thoughts are with his family.

“RIP Steve“.