BRITAIN: The British entertainment world yesterday paid tribute to the comedian Ronnie Barker following his death at the age of 76. Barker, most famous for the hugely successful show The Two Ronnies, died following a long illness.
As well as the long-running partnership with Ronnie Corbett - The Two Ronnies ran for 98 episodes over 12 series between 1971 and 1987, in its heyday attracting up to 18 million viewers - he had huge success with the sitcoms Porridge and Open All Hours.
And although he retired from the small screen in 1987 he was back on TV only recently in The Two Ronnies Sketchbook.
Ronnie Corbett spoke of his loss after a partnership which lasted 40 years. "
Ronnie was pure gold in triplicate: as a performer, a writer and a friend," Corbett said. "We worked together since 1965 and we never had a cross word."
John Cleese, who began his comedy career with Barker in the 1960s comedy series The Frost Report, described him yesterday as "a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when I started in television" and "a great comic actor to learn from".
Former Monty Python star Michael Palin said: "I can't think of anyone who knew how to play comedy better than Ronnie Barker."
Comedian Ben Elton said: "Britain has lost one of its greatest comic artists, but he lives on in an incomparable body of work which will continue to bring joy to millions."
Barker was honoured by Bafta in Ronnie Barker: A Bafta Tribute in 2004. He announced his retirement from TV comedy acting in 1987 at the height of his success after more than a decade of acclaimed shows.
He set up an antiques business with a shop in the Oxfordshire village of Chipping Norton.
Since retiring, Barker had only been on screen a few times, including a special tribute to The Two Ronnies in 1999, and in the BBC drama The Gathering Storm in 2002, in which he played Churchill's butler.
Barker's agent Rosalind Chatto said Barker's wife Joy Tubb - they married in 1957 - was with him when he died. He had been nursed at home but is thought to have gone into a hospice in the last 24 hours.
Ms Chatto said: "He died yesterday after a long period of heart trouble."
Barker, who wrote many of the scripts for The Two Ronnies, got his TV break when he was chosen for the supporting cast of The Frost Report 1966.
It was here that he first met Corbett, his future comedy partner and the other half of one of the most successful comedy double acts.
Barker and his wife had three children, Larry and actors Charlotte and Adam.
Michael Hurll, producer of The Two Ronnies, told the BBC: "There was a rhythm to a joke and he was able to show us how that worked. It worked every time.
"With Ronnie Barker you felt safe. The whole family could watch, granny and the kids.
"Ronnie Barker meant to comedy in this country, laughs, big laughs and laughs that you will always remember."
Comedy writer and broadcaster Barry Cryer, another close friend, described Barker as "a one-off".
He told BBC News 24: "I seriously put him in the same league as Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers. If he had gone into film he would have been enormous in films as well.
"He was like a chameleon - you couldn't believe it was the same man if you watched Porridge or Open All Hours. He was an amazing character actor."
Veteran comedian Eric Sykes said: "It's a very sad day. I've always admired him, not only for the way he writes, but also the way he acts." - (PA)