The cause of death for Paul Stewart Laing has now been officially determined after his demise in 2023.

The TV legend, who helped to launch the careers of icons including Lenny Henry and Les Dennis, died aged 83. It's now been confirmed his death was caused by sepsis following surgery.

An inquiry held at the Exeter Coroner's Court revealed that the television celebrity had elective surgery to remove his gallbladder and explore the common bile duct on January 16, 2023. The procedure took place at Derriford Hospital, after he experienced escalating issues with gallstones for a duration of eight years.

Four days post-surgery, Paul was released from the hospital. Reports indicated that he had been making a good recovery until he woke up nine days later feeling quite ill.

Reports indicate that he was subsequently returned to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with sepsis due to a lack of improvement in his condition. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the surgery was acknowledged to have a risk of infection.

He was rushed to the operating room for urgent surgery in an attempt to identify the source of the sepsis. Unfortunately, after being put under anesthesia, he experienced a cardiac arrest and passed away shortly thereafter.

It's thought doctors had conceded it was "likely" his previous surgery would have triggered the infection he had. "He probably did not have much reserves to fight it," Dr Aditya Kanwar, a consultant surgeon specialising in liver and bladder surgery at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said.

Paul rose to prominence in the 1970s, becoming a notable figure in British television. He was the producer and director behind several successful programs that became integral to the TV landscape. Among his contributions were popular shows like The Golden Shot and Celebrity Squares.

He also helmed London Night Out and Wednesday at Eight, the midweek counterpart to Sunday Night at the Palladium, which showcased a variety format that included the quiz game Name that Tune in between performances.