BBC News reports ...

Laurie Holloway, the former Musical Director of several BBC entertainment shows - such as Parkinson and Strictly Come Dancing - has died. aged 86.
Mike Parkinson, the son of Sir Michael Parkinson, confirmed to BBC News that he died "after a short illness".

The pianist and composer was well known to a generation of TV viewers and worked with singers such as Petula Clark, Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck. He composed the theme tunes for many TV programmes including Blind Date, Beadle's About, Game for a Laugh, Wicked Women and Maggie and Her.

Born in Oldham in 1938, Holloway began learning piano at a young age and became an organist and choirmaster at his local church when he was 12.
He went on to play at ballroom dances and on cruise ships. He also worked as a studio session musician and played with the Cyril Stapleton band.

Included among his many credits is Petula Clark's hit 'Downtown', released in 1964. He also worked with Englebert Humperdinck in the early 1970s, playing on his albums and joining him on a tour of the US. He also worked with Cleo Laine, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr, violinist Stephane Grappelli, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the John Dankworth Band, before increasingly working on television shows.

He began working alongside chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson in 1998, remaining with the show for the following decade, including after its move to ITV in 2004. Laurie and Sir Michael were close friends - the two lived close to each other in Bray, Berkshire. He wrote a tribute to Sir Michael {for UK Jazz News) following the latter's death in 2023.

Beginning in 2004, Holloway acted as the MD for the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, providing several musical arrangements each week. He continued working on the show for the following two series, setting the tone for the live music on the hugely popular dancing competition which has remained on air now for two decades.

He was made an MBE in 2013 for Services to music.

Holloway was married to the jazz singer Marian Montgomery until she died in 2002.

He is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren.