Sue Townsend 'a hero of mine', says Stephen Mangan

Sue Townsend, best known as the author of the successful Adrian Mole series, was a "warm" and "funny" person, actor Stephen Mangan has said.

Mr Mangan, who played Adrian Mole in a TV adaptation of the books, said the author had been a "hero" of his ever since he read her work as a teenager.

He recalled how Ms Townsend had jokingly said he was right for the role of Adrian Mole as he was suitably "not good looking".

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday 11 April.