Ronnie Corbett

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.”

Tributes were paid by figures from across the comedy world. Michael Palin fondly remembered Ronnie 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”.

Ronnie 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.”

Ronnie Corbett 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.