Bill Oddie today led the tributes to his Goodies co-star Tim Brooke-Taylor as he died aged 79 after contracting coronavirus.

The pair found fame alongside Graeme Garden as members of the 1970s comic trio, whose TV show attracted millions of viewers in its heydey.

Brooke-Taylor died on Sunday morning and is survived by his wife Christine. He joins comedian Eddie Large, playwright Terrence McNally and musician Adam Schlesinger as public figures who have died after contracting Covid-19.

Oddie wrote: "Fifty years and he only got cross with me once... well maybe twice... no quite a lot actually! No one could wear silly costumes or do dangerous stunts like Tim.

"I know it hurt cos he used to cry a lot. Sorry Timbo. A true visual comic and a great friend."

Garden described his former co-star as "hilarious and adorable".

“I am terribly saddened by the loss of a dear colleague and close friend of over 50 years," he said.

“Tim and I met at Cambridge University in the early 1960s and have enjoyed working together almost constantly from that time onwards, on radio, stage, and TV.

“He was a funny, sociable, generous man who was a delight to work with. Audiences found him not only hilarious but also adorable.

“His loss at this dreadful time is particularly hard to bear and my thoughts are with Christine, Ben, Edward and their families.”

Announcing his death on Sunday afternoon, Brooke-Taylor's agent said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce Tim’s death early today from Covid-19.

“Joining Footlights in 1960 took him to providing a huge variety of splendid entertainment – television, radio, theatre, film, books, DVDs, CDs, quizzes, etc – all of which he undertook with energy and a great sense of fun.

“We will remember him for so much but must just mention The Goodies and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.

“He had, of course, many fans whom he always treated cheerfully even after long and exhausting rehearsals and recordings. He was an exceptional client and a pleasure to represent.

“We’re grateful that we have so much of his work to view, read and listen to. In all the time with us and in all his showbiz work, he has been supported by Christine, his wife.”

Brooke-Taylor began his acting career at Cambridge University where he was president of the famed Footlights performing arts club.

He toured internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964 before finding wider recognition for his work on BBC Radio with I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again.

Brooke-Taylor moved into TV with At Last The 1948 Show, where he starred alongside John Cleese and Chapman.

But it was as one of The Goodies that he found international fame, earning household name status in Australia and New Zealand.

Brooke-Taylor was also regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue for over 40 years.

Comedian Jack Dee, who hosts the series, said: “It has come as devastating news to hear that Tim has succumbed to this dreadful virus – especially when we all thought he was recovering.

"Tim was a delightful man and never anything but great company. It has always been one of the great joys of my career to work with someone who was part of the comedy landscape of my childhood.

“I can’t bear the thought of introducing ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’ without being able to say ‘And on my right, Tim Brooke-Taylor…’@

He added: “Tim brought a unique quality to Clue. He was a proper team player, very generous as a performer, never egotistical and always more than delighted to set himself up as the butt of the joke.

“For me, his great comedy gift was playing the injured innocent and he did it with brilliance and a characteristic lightness of touch.

“It’s always heartbreaking to lose a loved one, but these times have created the cruellest of circumstances for that to happen in and my thoughts are with his wife Christine and all his family.”

Cleese tweeted: “Just woke up in LA to hear about Tim B-T How awful.. I’ll post later when I’ve had a chance to absorb this sad news.

“Tim was one of my very oldest friends, and one that I used to love performing with. He did ‘frightened’ better than anyone…”

Stephen Fry also joined in the tributes, calling Brooke-Taylor a "hero". "Gentle, kind, funny, wise, warm, but piercingly witty when he chose to be. So sad," he wrote.

David Mitchell said the world had been "robbed", tweeting: “He was a wonderful comedian and a really lovely man and I feel honoured to have known and worked with him. The world has been robbed – he had years more joy to give”.

David Walliams added: “I was obsessed with ‘The Goodies’ as a child, the first comedy show I really loved. I queued up to get the Goodies’ autographs as a grown-up, and got to meet Tim Brooke-Taylor more recently at a party. I was in total awe, but he was so kind & generous. It is so sad he is gone.”

Richard Osman, who had worked with Brooke-Taylor, also paid tribue, tweeting: “Just devastated at the death of Tim Brooke-Taylor. What a lovely, funny man. He was on such terrific form on the ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’ tour in January. We had such fun. God bless you Tim. So very sad. My love to Christine and his wonderful family”.

In a series of tweets, Scottish comedian Rory Bremner praised Brooke-Taylor for being a "true team player".

He wrote: “So sad that lovely – and much loved- Tim Brooke-Taylor has died. Always a Goodie, his modesty belied a huge legacy in British comedy- in show after show from Cambridge days on, from I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again to Clue”.

“His huge list of credits (many with the great @JohnCleese) is testament to his humour, his ability and timing, his kindness & dependability- a true team player- and a funny, lovely man to boot”.

“I queued as a schoolboy in Edinburgh to get my Goodies Album signed, and can’t believe 40 odd years later we were doing Clue together in January. Big theatres, huge laughs, such joy & affection for Tim. He was an absolute delight”.

Welsh comedian Rob Brydon shared a picture and tweeted: “So sad to hear that the great Tim Brooke Taylor has died. A wonderful man, so many happy times sat next to him on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. Here we are with Barry, Colin and Graeme at a celebration of the show in January. He was on great form. My thoughts are with his family”.

Sandi Toksvig added: “Tim Brooke-Taylor was a man I was privileged to call my friend. Generous and kind. Sitting beside him while he made us all laugh was an honour. He will be much missed”.

While comedian Susan Calman tweeted: “Devastated by this news today. Tim was funny, kind and an incredible man in every way. Sitting beside him on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue was a privilege. Our duets will be moments I treasure forever. My dear friend. Sending all my love to his family”.

Dom Joly added: “Oh no…RIP Tim Brooke-Taylor lovely, lovely man”.

Comedy writer Simon Blackwell tweeted: “Heartbreaking news about Tim Brooke-Taylor. Filled so many people’s childhoods with massive laughs, and then kept doing so for decades afterwards. Condolences to his family and friends”.