Former BBC designer Ray Cusick dies at 84

Ray Cusick, the designer of Doctor Who’s Daleks has died after suffering heart failure.

15:33 25 February 2013

Ray Cusick, the man who designed Daleks for TV show Doctor Who in 1963 has passed away on Thursday due to heart failure. He was 84 years old. His daughter confirmed that he died in his sleep following a short illness.

His death coincides with the show’s 50th anniversary this year. Cusick creations, the Daleks became iconic villains in cult science fiction series.

Following the sad news, the official Doctor Who Magazine tweeted: "It's with great sadness that we report the death of Ray Cusick - the designer of the Daleks. Half a century on, his iconic design lives on."

The writer and the actor of the show, Mark Gatiss also took to Twitter. He wrote: "Farewell to the great Ray Cusick. His passing is especially sad in this anniversary year but his creation remains immortal. Daleks forever!"

Mr Cusick was from Horsham in West Sussex and is survived by two daughters and seven grandchildren.