As result of his untimely death the scripts had to be heavily re-written , and the storyline became that Mel had died off - screen on a business trip abroad .
Geoffrey Hutchings who played Mel , died suddenly from a suspected viral infection .
As result of Geoffrey Hutchings ' untimely death the scripts had to be heavily re-written , and the storyline became that Mel had died off - screen on a business trip abroad .
Geoffrey Hutchings who played Mel , died suddenly from a suspected viral infection .