"He was absolutely delightful to play with and against, and do material with and, also, just a good friend too."

Sir Michael Parkinson: He was a perfect companion

Sir Michael Parkinson has described Corbett as a "genuinely good soul" and said he will miss him "terribly".

The former chat show host, 81, was friends with the much-loved funny man and enjoyed meeting up with him and other comedians where they would all "have a laugh".

Sir Michael, who joked that he had only really seen Corbett at funerals lately, said: "We spent time together, which was private time. Lots of good drinks together - myself, and him and the other Ronnie, and Jimmy Tarbuck and all the mates, and Bruce Forsyth, used to get together at least once or twice a year and meet up and just have a laugh."

He added: "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."