The world of entertainment is set to bid a final farewell to Ronnie Corbett next week when his funeral takes place. It is expected famous...
The world of entertainment is set to bid a final farewell to Ronnie Corbett next week when his funeral takes place.
It is expected famous faces will gather alongside other friends and family as the 85-year-old’s life is remembered in a church near his home in south London on Monday.
The Two Ronnies star, who has been hailed as a “true great of British comedy”, died on March 31 with a suspected form of motor neurone disease.
He was one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers and his partnership with Ronnie Barker in the BBC sketch show was one of the most popular of the 1970s and 1980s.
The funeral, which is by invitation only, will take place at St John the Evangelist Church, Shirley, followed by a short service at Croydon Crematorium, family friend Michael Thornton said.
It is expected the comedian’s daughters will pay tribute, and a wake will follow at Addington Golf Club.
Ronnie Corbett, one of the nation’s best-loved entertainers, has died aged 85. The comedian tickled the lives of the nation, be it thr...
Ronnie Corbett, one of the nation’s best-loved entertainers, has died aged 85.
The comedian tickled the lives of the nation, be it through television sketches or stand-up comedy, and we’ve pulled together some of Corbett’s best jokes over the years.
1. ”French wine growers fear that this year’s vintage may be entirely spoiled due to the grape treaders’ sit-in.”
2. “A cement mixer collided with a prison van on the Kingston by-pass. Motorists are asked to be on the look-out for 16 hardened criminals.”
3. “We will be talking to an out-of-work contortionist who says he can no longer make ends meet.”
4. “All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my right hand.”
5. “This is a message for seven honeymoon couples in a hotel in Peebles: Breakfast was served three days ago.”
6. ”A man was marooned on a desert island. One day a beautiful woman arrives in a wet suit. ’When did you last have a smoke?’ she asks. ’Five years ago.’ So she gets out a cigar and he smokes it. She unzips her wet suit a bit and says, ‘When did you last have a drink?’ He said, ‘Five years ago.’ So she gets out a bottle of Scotch and he has a drink. Then she unzips her wet suit a bit more and says, ‘And when was the last time you played around?’ He looks at her in amazement and says: ‘You’re not telling me you’ve got a set of golf clubs in there?’”
7. “It was revealed in a government survey published today that the Prime Minister is doing the work of two men, Laurel and Hardy.”
8. “There was a fire at the main Inland Revenue office in London today, but it was put out before any serious good was done.”
9. “West Mersea police announced tonight that they wish to interview a man wearing high heels and frilly knickers, but the Chief Constable said they must wear their normal uniforms.”
10. “We’ll be talking to a car designer who’s crossed a Toyota with Quasimodo and come up with the Hatchback of Notre Dame.”
11. “After a series of crimes in the Glasgow area, Chief Inspector McTavish has announced that he is looking for a man with one eye. If he doesn’t find him, he’s going to use both eyes.”
12. “A juggernaut of onions has shed its load all over the M1. Motorists are advised to find a hard shoulder to cry on.”
13. “We’ve just heard that in the English Channel, a ship carrying red paint has collided with a ship carrying purple paint. It is believed that both crews have been marooned.”
14. “If I wear too much tartan I tend to look like a Thermos flask.”
Ronnie Corbett, the diminutive half of The Two Ronnies – one of the funniest duos of their generation – was a highly versatile comedian who...
Ronnie Corbett, the diminutive half of The Two Ronnies – one of the funniest duos of their generation – was a highly versatile comedian who was just as much at home doing stand-up comedy (although usually sitting down) on his own, or acting in sitcoms, as he was with his famous partner Ronnie Barker.
His long professional association with Barker produced one of the most popular TV programmes of the late 20th century until Barker’s retirement in the mid-1980s, after 12 series.
The Two Ronnies, which ran from 1971 to 1987, invariably ended with the two saying: “It’s goodnight from me … and it’s goodnight from him.”
Most TV critics rated them as funnier, even, than Morecambe and Wise.
When on his own, Corbett specialised in long, rambling jokes delivered from an outsize armchair with his legs dangling in the air. The punchline came after the beginning had long been forgotten, so many twists and turns were there in the telling along the way.
In the late 1950s, Corbett worked in the late-night revues at Danny La Rue’s Club at Hanover Square, where he met his wife Anne Hart, the actress and singer.
He was spotted at this club by David Frost who invited him to join Barker and John Cleese in The Frost Report, one of the most influential TV shows of the 1960s. “David turned my life around,” Corbett said later.
After subsequent TV successes with Frost on Sunday, Corbett’s Follies, and sitcom No, That’s Me Over Here, the Ronnies got their biggest break thanks to a mishap at the Bafta awards.
Actor and comedian Ronnie Corbett has died at the age of 85. A statement from his publicist said: “Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the na...
Actor and comedian Ronnie Corbett has died at the age of 85.
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.”
Tributes have already begun pouring in for the comedian, who was beloved for The Two Ronnies, The Frost Report and Sorry!.
Comedians who resurrected the career of Ronnie Corbett posted poignant messages online moments after it was announced he had died aged 85. ...
Comedians who resurrected the career of Ronnie Corbett posted poignant messages online moments after it was announced he had died aged 85.
His publicist announced his passing earlier today, saying: “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.”
Corbett’s career was rejuvenated around 2006 when he appeared in an episode of Ricky Gervais’ Extras, in scenes where he took cocaine at the Baftas with the comic and his co-writer Stephen Merchant.
Gervais, below, was one of the first funnymen to doff his hat to the diminutive icon, pictured above in 2014.
He tweeted: ‘RIP the lovely, funny legend Ronnie Corbett. It was an absolute honour & joy to have known him.’
Corbett was also pals with David Walliams, and was at his wedding to model Lara Stone after working on an episode of Little Britain.
Walliams, above, tweeted: ‘Goodbye to my friend and comedy idol #RonnieCorbett. Thank you for all the laughs. It was the greatest honour to know and work with you.’
Flight Of The Conchords comic Jermaine Clement also remembered his idol in a tweet, posting the words: ‘Aw man, RIP’ with a link to an article in The Guardian that said Corbett’s death was part of ‘more 2016 is well crap news’.
Comic Jason Manford and presenter Kate Garraway also tweeted about the death, while other fans shared snaps of old magazine covers featuring Corbett and his famous one-liners from his days working with comedy partner Ronnie Barker who died in 2005.
