COMIC RONNIE BARKER DIES
Legendary TV comic Ronnie Barker has died at his home, aged 76.
The BAFTA-winning comedian became famous for his roles as stuttering shop keeper Arkwright in Open All Hours and as jailbird Fletcher in Porridge.
He died at his home yesterday at 12.15pm after a long period of heart trouble. His wife Joy Tubb was with him at the time.
Agent Rosalind Chatto said: He died peacefully and his wife was with him. He had been nursed at home for a long time.
Despite previous success in the UK, it was with comedy partner Ronnie Corbett that he found worldwide fame in their sketch show The Two Ronnies.
The pair met in 1966 while working on the Frost Report, for which Barker was a writer and performer.
In a statement, Ronnie Corbett said he would miss his friend terribly.
He said: Ronnie was pure gold in triplicate; as a performer; a writer and a friend. We worked together since 1965 and we never had a cross word.
It was 40 years of harmonious joy, nothing but an absolute pleasure.
Here are some of the duos lines:
The ending to The Two Ronnies:
Corbett: And now, its goodnight from me...
Barker: ...and its goodnight from him.
Opening to The Two Ronnies:
Corbett: Good evening! Its wonderful to be back with you again, isnt it, Ronnie?
Barker Indeed it is. And in a packed programme tonight, I shall be having a word with a man who goes in for meditation, because he thinks its better than sitting around doing nothing.
Corbett: And well be talking to a car designer whos crossed Toyota with Quasimodo and come up with The Hatchback of Notre Dame.
Barker: And we had hoped to have been bringing you Arthur the Human Chameleon, but this afternoon, he crawled across a tartan rug and died of exhaustion. But first, the news: The House of Commons was sealed off today after police chased an escaped lunatic through the front door during Prime Ministers question time. A spokesman at Scotland Yard said it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Corbett: 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.
Barker: Many old music hall fans were present at the funeral today of Fred Chuckles Jenkins, Britains oldest and unfunniest comedian. In tribute, the vicar read out one of Freds jokes, and the congregation had two minutes silence.
Corbett: Latest on the bullion robbery: At Wansforth Police Station, a man whos as deaf as a post, and doesnt speak english, with a terrible stutter, bad breath and squeaky shoes, is not helping the police with their inquiries one little bit.
Barker: At Londons Heathrow, senior customs officer Seaforth Mumbly retired today. He shook hands with passengers passing through the customs, and confiscated a gold watch for himself.
Corbett: There was a fire at the main Inland Revenue office in London today, but it was put out before any serious good was done.
Barker: The search for the man who terrorizes nudist camps with a bacon slicer goes on. Inspector Lemuel Jones had a tip-off this morning, but hopes to be back on duty tomorrow.
Corbett: Finally, it was revealed in a government survey published today that the Prime Minister is doing the work of two men. Laurel and Hardy.
Barker: And now a sketch, featuring Mr Ronnie Corbett, whose wife tries not to bring out the beast in him, because shes afraid of mice.
Other memorable jokes:
:: The man who invented the zip fastener was today honoured with a lifetime peerage. He will now be known as the Lord of the Flies.
The toilets at a local police station have been stolen. Police say they have nothing to go on.
In a packed programme tonight we will be talking to an out-of-work contortionist who says he can no longer make ends meet.
The Two Ronnies ran for 16 years and had audiences reaching 18 million but Barker once said that Porridge was the best thing he had ever done.
I knew with Porridge from the first episode. It was in front of an audience which is a wonderful sounding board as to how well its going, he said.
My wife was in the audience for that and she said afterwards, This is going to be a big success - and she was right.
Yet his favourite character was Arkwright in Open All Hours, on which he worked with a young David Jason.
We had a whale of a time, Barker recalled. We did thoroughly enjoy that.
David Jason said: I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Ronnies death. He was a very dear friend and someone for whom I had the greatest respect.
Working with Ronnie was always a joy and were without doubt some of the best years of my career.
Paying tribute to Barker, comedian Bernard Manning told Sky News: He was a comic genius, there is no doubt about that. He was in the golden era of comedy.
Following years of popularity, Barker surprised the showbiz world by announcing his retirement in 1987 - at the peak of his career.
He chose to give up the limelight in favour of running his antique shop in the Cotswolds.
Ronnie Barker will always be remembered as one of the most successful television comics of all time.
Legendary TV comic Ronnie Barker has died at his home, aged 76.
The BAFTA-winning comedian became famous for his roles as stuttering shop keeper Arkwright in Open All Hours and as jailbird Fletcher in Porridge.
He died at his home yesterday at 12.15pm after a long period of heart trouble. His wife Joy Tubb was with him at the time.
Agent Rosalind Chatto said: He died peacefully and his wife was with him. He had been nursed at home for a long time.
Despite previous success in the UK, it was with comedy partner Ronnie Corbett that he found worldwide fame in their sketch show The Two Ronnies.
The pair met in 1966 while working on the Frost Report, for which Barker was a writer and performer.
In a statement, Ronnie Corbett said he would miss his friend terribly.
He said: Ronnie was pure gold in triplicate; as a performer; a writer and a friend. We worked together since 1965 and we never had a cross word.
It was 40 years of harmonious joy, nothing but an absolute pleasure.
Here are some of the duos lines:
The ending to The Two Ronnies:
Corbett: And now, its goodnight from me...
Barker: ...and its goodnight from him.
Opening to The Two Ronnies:
Corbett: Good evening! Its wonderful to be back with you again, isnt it, Ronnie?
Barker Indeed it is. And in a packed programme tonight, I shall be having a word with a man who goes in for meditation, because he thinks its better than sitting around doing nothing.
Corbett: And well be talking to a car designer whos crossed Toyota with Quasimodo and come up with The Hatchback of Notre Dame.
Barker: And we had hoped to have been bringing you Arthur the Human Chameleon, but this afternoon, he crawled across a tartan rug and died of exhaustion. But first, the news: The House of Commons was sealed off today after police chased an escaped lunatic through the front door during Prime Ministers question time. A spokesman at Scotland Yard said it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Corbett: 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.
Barker: Many old music hall fans were present at the funeral today of Fred Chuckles Jenkins, Britains oldest and unfunniest comedian. In tribute, the vicar read out one of Freds jokes, and the congregation had two minutes silence.
Corbett: Latest on the bullion robbery: At Wansforth Police Station, a man whos as deaf as a post, and doesnt speak english, with a terrible stutter, bad breath and squeaky shoes, is not helping the police with their inquiries one little bit.
Barker: At Londons Heathrow, senior customs officer Seaforth Mumbly retired today. He shook hands with passengers passing through the customs, and confiscated a gold watch for himself.
Corbett: There was a fire at the main Inland Revenue office in London today, but it was put out before any serious good was done.
Barker: The search for the man who terrorizes nudist camps with a bacon slicer goes on. Inspector Lemuel Jones had a tip-off this morning, but hopes to be back on duty tomorrow.
Corbett: Finally, it was revealed in a government survey published today that the Prime Minister is doing the work of two men. Laurel and Hardy.
Barker: And now a sketch, featuring Mr Ronnie Corbett, whose wife tries not to bring out the beast in him, because shes afraid of mice.
Other memorable jokes:
:: The man who invented the zip fastener was today honoured with a lifetime peerage. He will now be known as the Lord of the Flies.
The toilets at a local police station have been stolen. Police say they have nothing to go on.
In a packed programme tonight we will be talking to an out-of-work contortionist who says he can no longer make ends meet.
The Two Ronnies ran for 16 years and had audiences reaching 18 million but Barker once said that Porridge was the best thing he had ever done.
I knew with Porridge from the first episode. It was in front of an audience which is a wonderful sounding board as to how well its going, he said.
My wife was in the audience for that and she said afterwards, This is going to be a big success - and she was right.
Yet his favourite character was Arkwright in Open All Hours, on which he worked with a young David Jason.
We had a whale of a time, Barker recalled. We did thoroughly enjoy that.
David Jason said: I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Ronnies death. He was a very dear friend and someone for whom I had the greatest respect.
Working with Ronnie was always a joy and were without doubt some of the best years of my career.
Paying tribute to Barker, comedian Bernard Manning told Sky News: He was a comic genius, there is no doubt about that. He was in the golden era of comedy.
Following years of popularity, Barker surprised the showbiz world by announcing his retirement in 1987 - at the peak of his career.
He chose to give up the limelight in favour of running his antique shop in the Cotswolds.
Ronnie Barker will always be remembered as one of the most successful television comics of all time.
yeah i know what you mean about the dam, i have been a few times before and it is great for a holiday but i wouldn't like to live there