One Call the Midwife star died penniless after appearing on the hit BBC period drama. Warren Clarke played John Lacey in a 2011 episode of the programme – a bully who was constantly belittling his pregnant wife Annie. In the episode, Annie eventually grows confident enough to leave her abusive husband to fend for himself.

In real life, however, things were just as difficult for actor Warren. Despite landing roles in everything from Stanley Kubrick hit A Clockwork Orange to episodes of Midsomer Murders and Poldark, the actor died “penniless” in 2014. He passed away in his sleep following a short illness – and after playing out scenes on his character’s deathbed in Poldark.

Tragically, however, Dalziel and Pascoe star Warren left behind an estate of just £13,056. After his outstanding affairs were settled, this figure was reduced to zero. He had planned to leave everything to his wife Michele when he died, stipulating in his will that if she died before him, the money would go to his daughter Georgia and son Rowan.

He also left a series of watches to Rowan. But sadly, he did not have enough money left to give to his children.

Throughout his career, Warren struggled for money. While starring in BBC programme Nice Work, he was given an advance of just £350 and had to borrow cash from his colleagues to keep going. He explained: “In those days the BBC didn’t pay you until you had done the first studio recording, so I had been working on the show for two months without any money. I went to the cashpoint, put my card in the machine and it spat it out.”

In a heartbreaking confession, he explained that his wife even had to pawn her engagement ring in order to make ends meet, revealing: “A few months later, I noticed that my wife wasn’t wearing her engagement ring. I asked her where it was and she explained it was being repaired."

Instead of getting it repaired, however, she had sold the ring to pay the bills.

In 2013, it was claimed Warren lost more money investing in the action film The Numbers Station, starring John Cusack, which didn’t perform as well as expected. At the box office it grossed just $36,000 – around £27,000 – despite having a budget of $10million.

Despite 50 years in showbiz, Warren sadly died penniless at the age of 67.