'Comic Genius' Ronnie Corbett Dies Aged 85
Sir Bruce Forsyth tells Paste BN that "a great big hole has been left in show business" after the death of Ronnie Corbett.
Thursday 31 March 2016 11:47, UK
The entertainer Ronnie Corbett has died at the age of 85 surrounded by his family.
A statement from his publicist said: "Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the nation's best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family.
"They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time."
It is understood Corbett was to have been knighted in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list following a campaign from fellow entertainers, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper reported that "a small group of top entertainers" had warned mandarins that the comedian was gravely ill, and urged that he be knighted this year.
Born Ronald Balfour Corbett in Edinburgh, Corbett was perhaps best known for his long association with fellow comedian Ronnie Barker in the television series The Two Ronnies.
The pair first worked together on The Frost Report in the late 1960s before developing their own show which included sketches, singing and dancing.
The show is still hailed as one of the UK's most popular TV programmes of the late 20th Century.
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Barker died in 2005 when he was 76.
Tributes from the world of entertainment have poured in for the five foot one inch-tall star.
Sir Bruce Forsyth worked with Corbett on a number of occasions and told Paste BN "a great big hole has been left in show business".
"A master. He was only a little master I know, but a master of his craft," he said.
"He was wonderful to work with. His timing was immaculate. And a dapper little man too.
"He was a character in so many ways, and was himself all of the time. You never saw Ronnie trying to be anyone else."
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John Cleese tweeted: "Just heard about Ronnie C. So sad. He had the best timing I've ever watched. He was a great, kind mentor and a wonderfully witty companion."
Hugh Laurie tweeted: "Ronnie Corbett, may he rest in peace. A beautiful, brilliant man."
Ricky Gervais wrote: "RIP the lovely, funny legend Ronnie Corbett. It was an absolute honour & joy to have known him."
Former BBC chairman Lord Grade told Paste BN the star was working right up until his death and was a "comic genius".
He said people loved working with the comedian and he had an "innate" feel for comedy and what would make an audience laugh.
"He never disappointed audiences, whether he was working on television or on the stage."
Steve Coogan wrote: "Ronnie Corbett is the last of the BBC's magic quartet of Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies. The end of an era of comedy loved by the whole nation regardless of age, creed or class."
Dame Barbara Windsor said Corbett was a "truly brilliant all round performer".
Jack Whitehall tweeted: "RIP Ronnie Corbett, what a brilliant and funny man he was."
Corbett was married to actress and dancer Anne Hart for over 50 years and the couple had two daughters, Emma and Sophie.
The much-loved actor was awarded a CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours for his services to charity and the entertainment industry.
His wife later revealed that, during a celebration to mark the achievement, he had collapsed in a restaurant and was rushed to hospital.