Craig Douglas, the British pop singer known as "the singing milkman" for his working-class beginnings on the Isle of Wight, has died at the age of 85 following a short illness. He rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably with his 1959 UK cover of Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen", which reached number one in the British charts, and released his self-titled debut album in the 1960s. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from Isle of Wight residents and industry acquaintances who remembered both his singing career and his years working as a local milkman before fame.

Douglas passed away on 4 September, with no cause of death disclosed. Isle of Wight locals, including Angela Norton and Philip Thorne, recalled him fondly as their milkman before he became a star, while promoter Vic Farrow, who booked Douglas for shows including at Shanklin Theatre and Shanklin Conservative Club, described him as a pleasure to work with and recalled attending his surprise 80th birthday party. Douglas's version of "Only Sixteen" remains his best-known hit and introduced him to a wide UK audience, cementing his legacy as one of Britain's teen idols of the era.