Ian Wallace Dead

Famed British opera singer Ian Wallace has died at the age of 90.

The stage star was best known for his signature tune The Hippopotamus Song, more commonly referred to as Mud, Glorious Mud.

He trained as a lawyer but made his name as a bass baritone singer in post-war Britain and after starting out in opera in 1946, he became a regular at Britain's Glyndebourne festival in the 1950s.

He also appeared in stage shows including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fanny, and Cole Porter's Aladdin. He later moved into broadcasting and became a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4 show My Music.

Wallace, who was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his charity work, died at his home in north London on Monday after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Patricia.