TV star known for his work in The Two Ronnies, particularly his rambling monologues, died surrounded by his family

Ronnie Corbett, one of Britain’s most popular entertainers, who was a regular television fixture for more than 50 years, has died aged 85. Corbett first came to fame on The Frost Report in the 1960s but was best known as one half of The Two Ronnies with his comedy partner, Ronnie Barker, who died in 2005.

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.”



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Tributes were paid by figures from across the comedy world. Michael Palin fondly remembered Corbett’s silliness, John Cleese called him “a great, kind mentor”, and Miranda Hart said she was “having a little weep at the death of one of my heroes”.

Corbett was a staple of British television for more than 50 years and will be particularly remembered for his rambling, convoluted monologues on The Two Ronnies, which often included jokes at the expense of the show’s producer.

The Two Ronnies ran from 1971 to 1987 and always began with the pair reading mock news headlines, along the lines of: “A man from Dagenham has named his son TGF 308F. He said he may not be rich, but when he eventually leaves his son his Ford Mondeo, at least he’ll have his own personalised number plate.”

He appeared in some of the most fondly remembered comedy sketches of the last 50 years, including a celebrated piece which saw Corbett’s increasingly exasperated hardware store owner not knowing whether Barker wanted four candles or fork handles.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Corbett with his comedic partner, Ronnie Barker. Photograph: Harris/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

In one Mastermind spoof, Corbett’s chosen subject was “answering the question before last”. “What’s the difference between a donkey and an ass?” asked Barker. “One’s a trade union leader, the other is a member of the cabinet,” replied Corbett.



Born in Edinburgh in 1930, Corbett began acting at the age of 15, when he starred in a pantomime at his local church youth club. His breakthrough came when David Frost spotted him in cabaret at Danny la Rue’s nightclub, Winston’s. He was invited to appear in The Frost Report alongside Frost, Barker and John Cleese, and soon went on to enjoy a string of other TV successes, including Corbett’s Follies and No, That’s Me Over Here.

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But his best-known legacy, The Two Ronnies, was the result of an accident. After a technical hitch at the Bafta awards in 1971, he and Barker stepped up and kept the audience entertained with eight minutes of unscripted jokes. So impressed were the watching Bill Cotton and Paul Fox, head of light entertainment and controller of BBC1 respectively, that they immediately offered the pair their own show.



Like Barker, Corbett had a successful solo career, his best-known role being that of Timothy Lumsden in the sitcom Sorry! between 1981 and 88. He played a fortysomething single man who, dominated by an overweening mother (Barbara Lott), could never quite leave home.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ronnie Corbett receives his honour for services to entertainment and to charity at Buckingham Palace. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

Many of his jokes revolved around his diminutive stature. At 5ft 1in, Corbett enjoyed telling people that he was, during national service, the shortest commissioned officer in the British forces and he rarely missed an opportunity to poke fun at his own height.

The versatile comedian also hosted the BBC1 game show Small Talk for two years from 1994 to 96. He recently appeared on the BBC Radio 4 show When the Dog Dies, which saw him reunited with the writers of Sorry!



He became something of a national treasure and was not afraid to make fun of it – memorably appearing in Ricky Gervais’s sitcom Extras, in which he was caught sniffing cocaine in the gents’ toilet.

He kept on working and made, at the age 80, a two-part series called Ronnie Corbett’s Comedy Britain, in which he met comedians he admired, including David Mitchell, Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart, who all appeared in genuine awe.

His comedy skills were often underappreciated or taken for granted, partly because of the brilliance of Barker. But his fellow performers recognised his talents, with Cleese crediting Corbett with teaching him how to hold a pause.

Cleese tweeted:

Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, said: “Ronnie Corbett was a wonderful comic and entertainer. A man of great charm and warmth who brought laughter and joy to millions. He was quite simply one of the true greats of British comedy. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”



The prime minister, David Cameron, said: “Ronnie Corbett had the rare talent of making all generations laugh. He’ll be remembered as one of the all-time great comedians.”

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted:

Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, tweeted: “Sad to hear about Ronnie Corbett’s death. I loved The Two Ronnies and feel lucky to have grown up in those years. Great comic & a proud Scot.”

Sir Michael Parkinson said: “He was a very easy man to love. He was a perfect companion. He was bright. He could tell good stories. He was funny. He was very rarely depressed. Anne, his wife, she’ll be distraught. I mean, it was a great marriage. They’ve been together for many, many years, and it was a very loving partnership. We were just mates and I shall miss him terribly.”

Sir Bruce Forsyth hailed Corbett as one of the greatest entertainers the nation had seen: “I have lost a close and very dear friend and we have all lost one of the greatest comedians and entertainers this country has known.”

Steve Coogan said: “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.”

Hugh Laurie, who starred in the BBC’s The Night Manager, tweeted:

Hugh Laurie (@hughlaurie) Ronnie Corbett, may he rest in peace. A beautiful, brilliant man.

Comedian Miranda Hart said: “Having a little weep at the death of one of my heroes, Ronnie Corbett. As he would say, ‘Miranda, you can’t look up to me.’ Goodbye from me.”

Michael Palin told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “Ronnie had a great sense of silliness, which I responded to greatly. He could do the serious stuff as well but there was a lovely sort of mischief, his eyes twinkled. He was absolutely delightful to play with and against, and do material with and, also, just a good friend too.”

David Walliams said:



Ricky Gervais wrote on Twitter: “RIP the lovely, funny legend Ronnie Corbett. It was an absolute honour & joy to have known him.”



Rob Brydon said: “So saddened that Ronnie Corbett has passed away. A truly great comedian, a great man and a great friend. He was one of the special ones. RIP.”

Writer and actor Mark Gatiss wrote on Twitter: “Ronnie Corbett was the most generous, charming and lovely man. Hugely supportive in the early days of The League of Gentlemen. The day after we won the Perrier, I saw him in the queue. It was like being blessed by all our childhood Saturday nights. RIP dear man.”







Comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar tweeted:

Julian Clary wrote: “RIP Ronnie Corbett, a master of his craft and a huge star.”

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott posted a photograph on Twitter of four candles or fork handles, along with the words: “RIP Ronnie Corbett.”



John Prescott (@johnprescott) RIP Ronnie Corbett. pic.twitter.com/AajCfXJ4Ts

Corbett and his wife, Anne Hart, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year. The actor, who enjoyed golf, cricket and bread-making, 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.