The funeral of One Man and His Dog presenter and Express & Star columnist Phil Drabble will be held at Stafford Crematorium next week.

The 93-year-old widower, who turned millions of TV viewers into sheep dog trial fans through the BBC 2 programme he hosted for almost 20 years, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday.

Friends say he gave specific instructions that he did not want a big fuss and that the service was to take place in Stafford. It will be on August 8 at 11am.

Ruth Froggatt, a close family friend who worked as his personal assistant for over 25 years, said today: “He had not been in good health for some time and died of old age.

“He was a good, honest man who loved the country and fought for nature long before the subject became trendy.

He loved his dogs but was also very passionate about badgers – he felt they had an unfair public image and tried to be their protector. He will be sadly missed.”

Mr Drabble’s wife Jess died 18 months ago. The couple did not have any children but lived for many years at the nature reserve they created at Abbots Bromley near Rugeley, where he died.

Full-time carer Linda Lewis was with him when he passed away shortly after breakfast.

The pensioner, who was awarded the OBE for services to broadcasting, wrote almost 20 books and penned a regular Saturday column in the Express & Star for many years.

He was brought up as an only child by his GP father in Bloxwich after his mother died. He began work as a factory lad before rising to become a member of the board of the Midland Engineering Employers Association.

He made his first radio broadcast in 1947 and his TV debut five years later. He was the first president of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 1969. Its chairman Pat Callaghan said: “He was a pioneer of the Wildlife Trust movement and we shall mourn his loss.”