THE former BBC producer dubbed Gobby for grilling ministers on TV cameras for decades has died.

Paul Lambert – who went on to become Nigel Farage's UKIP Communications Director in 2014 – is said to have taken his own life aged 61, leaving his family “devastated”.

His daughter Danni Lambert said on Facebook: “Our dad Paul Lambert has sadly taken his own life.

“As you can imagine this is a devastating time for us as a family.”

The BBC described Gobby – famed for his booming voice – as a "central character in Westminster". BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said on Twitter that he was a "friend of everyone for so long – such sad, sad news”.

Mr Lambert shouted the most awkward of questions of everyone from the Prime Minister down, often from Downing Street, in countless news reports.

He said of his work in 2013: ”You know someone isn't going to say anything, you just need something to happen.”

Political journalist Michael Crick also said on Twitter that Mr Lambert was a "master of the political doorstep”.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Paul was a "unique man and great fun to work with”.

David Cameron’s ex communications director Craig Oliver said: "The start of a thousand TV news reports was Gobby shouting, 'Are you going to resign?'"

Mr Lambert started out as an electrician. He left Westminster for good after Farage’s doomed 2015 general election campaign.

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