Tributes have been paid to the British comedian and activist Jeremy Hardy following his death from cancer at the age of 57.
Away from stand-up, Hardy was known for his social justice campaigning and guest appearances on BBC Two's Mock the Week and BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. He was also an author and actor.
Hardy's publicist Amanda Emery said he "retained to the end the principles that guided his life; trying to make the world more humane, and to be wonderfully funny".
"He will be enormously missed by so many, who were inspired by him and who laughed with him," she added.
QI and The Great British Bake Off host Sandi Toksvig said her late friend was "a one-off".
— Sandi Toksvig (@sanditoksvig) February 1, 2019
"Part genius, part naughty school boy," she continued. "When he was doing one of his off-the-cuff political rants on The News Quiz there was no one to match him for his brilliant understanding of the event in question, his satire and his straightforward ability to make us sob with laughter."
"Above all, Jeremy was a political activist who never wavered in his beliefs, no matter what path the rest of society was taking," she added.
Impressionist Rory Bremner wrote: "Unfussy, unshowy, principled, self-deprecating, hugely loved and admired by his fellow comedians, and funnier than the lot of us put together. A unique comedian and a lovely man."
Sad beyond measure that Jeremy Hardy died this morning. Unfussy, unshowy, principled, self-deprecating, hugely loved & admired by his fellow comedians, and funnier than the lot of us put together. A unique comedian & a lovely man.
— Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) February 1, 2019
Pointless star Richard Osman said working with Hardy was "a masterclass, a privilege".
"He was so naturally and brilliantly funny, and a man who chose to use his comedy to change the world, rather than to fill stadia. A very sad day," Osman added.
I was very lucky to work with Jeremy Hardy early in my career. Every day was a masterclass, a privilege. He was so naturally and brilliantly funny, and a man who chose to use his comedy to change the world, rather than to fill stadia. A very sad day. #RIPJeremy
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) February 1, 2019
Jack Dee wrote: "Jeremy Hardy was ground-breakingly brilliant, off-the-register funny, compassionate and caring. So privileged to have counted him as a dear friend."
Fellow comedian Rebecca Front said Hardy's passing was "heartbreaking news".
"I was almost always paired with Jeremy on The News Quiz and he was endlessly kind, supportive, generous and of course funny," she recounted. "Ridiculously funny. God, we'll miss him and now of all times we needed him."
This has floored me. Heartbreaking news. I was almost always paired with Jeremy on The News Quiz and he was endlessly kind, supportive, generous and of course funny. Ridiculously funny. God, we’ll miss him and now of all times we needed him. https://t.co/edqaKt2Mpi
— Rebecca Front (@RebeccaFront) February 1, 2019
British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described Hardy as "a dear, lifelong friend".
"He always gave his all for everyone else and the campaigns for social justice," Corbyn continued. "You made us all smile. You made us all think. Rest in peace, Jeremy."
Jeremy Hardy was a dear, lifelong friend. He always gave his all for everyone else and the campaigns for social justice.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) February 1, 2019
You made us all smile. You made us all think.
Rest in peace, Jeremy. pic.twitter.com/9ClbaPyDO0
Sioned Wiliam, BBC Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Comedy, said: "Jeremy Hardy was quite simply brilliant. Passionate, highly articulate, and above all very, very funny.
"Whether he was demolishing politicians on The News Quiz, the idiocies of modern life on Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation, or any tune he was required to sing on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, he was always at the top of his game. He was one of our family and will be deeply missed by us all."
A memorial will be held in Jeremy Hardy's honour at a later date.
