Weatherill, the first TV Speaker of the House, dies at 86

The peer - a central figure during the Thatcher era - gained worldwide fame after footage from showpiece Parliamentary occasions, including Prime Minister's Questions, was first beamed around the globe.

It was said he claimed higher TV ratings in the US than some of the most popular soap operas.

Renowned for the wit and composure he displayed in handling boisterous MPs, he was also the last Speaker to choose to wear a wig in the Commons - joking that it allowed him to hear selectively.

Bernard Weatherill, a Conservative and known by many as Jack, was Speaker between 1983 and 1992 despite fierce opposition from Margaret Thatcher when she was prime minister.

She was irritated at his reputation as a banner-waver for backbenchers and believed he allowed too much time for debating sensitive government policies.

He died at the Marie Curie Community Hospice in Caterham, Surrey, on Sunday night after a short illness. In 2005, he had disclosed he was suffering from prostate cancer.

His son Bruce Weatherill said: "We will all miss him greatly."

Tony Blair led the political tributes, saying: "Jack Weatherill was a real gentleman, someone of immense courtesy and kindness who was an outstanding Speaker and will be missed by people from all parties."

Lord Tebbit, the former Tory party chairman, said: "He was one of life's gentlemen."

Bernard Weatherill joined the family's-Savile Row tailoring business on leaving school.

In later life, he always carried a thimble given to him by his mother to remind him of his humble background.

During the Second World War he served in the Indian Army, rising to the rank of captain.

After the war the lifelong vegetarian returned to tailoring and became the family firm's managing director.

He served as MP for Croydon North East from 1964 until his retirement from the Commons in 1992.

Edward Heath made him deputy chief government whip in 1973. But when Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979 she overlooked him for chief whip.

He was voted Deputy Speaker in 1980 and it was in that role that he gave his casting vote to allow TV cameras in the Commons, although it was 1990 before broadcasts began.

His private papers, released several years ago, revealed that Mrs Thatcher tried to block his appointment as the 154th Speaker in 1983.

They also cast light on their behind-the-scenes rows, including one in which she demanded he give her more protection.

He was widely admired for his fairness, even temper and support for backbenchers' rights.

Lord Weatherill is survived by his wife Lyn, three children and seven grandchildren.