A MILITARY man known for his TV stint as a fearsome platoon sergeant has died from Covid-19.

Alastair Rae, from Allithwaite, near Grange, is best known for rehabilitating delinquents in hit ITV series Bad Lads Army.

The 62-year-old served in the army for more than 20 years – serving in Bosnia and Iraq before ending his career as a regimental sergeant major at Sandhurst.

Mr Rae died at Furness General Hospital. He leaves behind his wife Elaine and 16-year-old son Jake.

His sister-in-law, Rebecca Gregson, described him as a ‘quiet and unassuming person’ yet who ‘loved the limelight’.

“Alastair actually joined the army when he was younger than 16 and lied about his age because he was so keen to sign up,” she said. “When he was in the army he met Richard Nauyokas (Nookie) who did the first series of Bad Lads Army and got Ali on board for the second.

“He absolutely loved it. He loved amateur dramatics and performing which was part of why he liked being in the army.

“But at home he was quiet and unassuming.”

The show launched Mr Rae’s television career, going on to appear on Celebrity Weakest Link and brushing shoulders with stars like Simon Cowell and Barbara Windsor.

Later in life, Mr Rae belonged to a number of local theatre groups including Abbey Musical Society in Barrow and worked at The Pheasant Inn in Allithwaite.

Mrs Gregson said: “He was very generous with his time. When he worked at The Pheasant, he loved speaking to people and was very confident.”

Mrs Gregson said Mr Rae was scared of Covid-19 before he caught the deadly virus.

“It was very sudden, he wasn’t in hospital for long at all,” she said. “It was massively unexpected – he was very healthy, it really did wipe him out quite suddenly."

Mrs Gregson said the family has received an outpouring of tributes since his death.

“When he passed away, we realised how many lives he touched,” she said. “People were leaving messages saying Ali helped them turn their life around with his mentoring.

“At the funeral, people were lining the streets of Allithwaite to the church.

“He’s left a big hole in not just the local community but for the people who he mentored and inspired as well.

“He already had a legacy before he died which will carry on.”

The family decided to launch a fundraiser for St Mary’s Hospice after his death in November and have already raised over £8,000.

“Ali did a lot of auctions and fundraisers for the hospice and we knew he would appreciate it if we chose them so we thought it was the right thing to do,” Mrs Gregson said.

“We actually only set a target of £1,000 and ended up raising over £8,000 – it just kept going up.”

To donate, visit uk.gofundme.com/f/in-honour-of-the-life-of-alistair-rae.