TV archaeologist Mick Aston, who starred in long-running archaeology series Time Team from when it started in 1994 until 2011, has died at the age of 66.
Aston worked alongside Tony Robinson (pictured together) on 19 series of Time Team
Close friend and former colleague Phil Harding, who worked on the popular Channel 4 series with Professor Aston, said he had received the news from his son, James Aston.
Time Team's official Facebook and Twitter accounts also paid tribute to the retired academic with the message: 'It is with a very heavy heart that we've been informed that our dear colleague Mick Aston has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family.'
Dr Harding said that although his friend had suffered health problems, learning of his death just two weeks after talking to him on the phone for the last time had come as a shock.
'It just seems so incredible, like a bad dream, but unfortunately this is no dream,' the 62-year-old said.
'He was a seriously good mate and a seriously good archaeologist, a unique man.
'Everybody loved him, he just had a way with people. I cannot believe there was anybody who disliked him, he just had such a relaxed way.
'He had incredible knowledge and an effortless way of making archaeology accessible to people.'
His death comes just days after Time Team presenter Tony Robinson - who played Baldrick in comedy series Blackadder - received a knighthood from the Queen.
Read more: Tributes paid to Time Team archaeologist Mick Aston after his death aged 66 | Mail Online
