Rob Brydon, Ricky Gervais and our own Dara O Briain were among the many famous comedians remembering "true great" Barry Humphries following his death age 89.
The stage and screen veteran, best known for his comic character Dame Edna Everage, died at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney Australia on Saturday night (11am GMT).
His death came following a readmission to hospital after suffering complications following hip surgery last month.
Comedian Brydon, a friend of Humphries, said he was with the Australian entertainer just three days ago when "he was, as ever, making me laugh".
RIP Barry Humphries. A true great who inspired me immeasurably. It was a delight to call him my friend.
— Rob Brydon (@RobBrydon) April 22, 2023
I've been in Australia and was with him only 3 days ago. He was, as ever, making me laugh. His talent shone until the very end.
My love goes out to Lizzie and all the family. pic.twitter.com/G5aJfLiVkK
"RIP Barry Humphries. A true great who inspired me immeasurably," Brydon tweeted.
"It was a delight to call him my friend. I’ve been in Australia and was with him only three days ago. He was, as ever, making me laugh. His talent shone until the very end."
Meanwhile, actor Gervais and impressionist Rory Bremner said Humphries was a "comedy genius" and an "all-time great".
"Farewell, Barry Humphries, you Comedy genius," Gervais tweeted.
Bremner wrote: "Heavens. With the passing of #barryhumphries we lose an all-time great.
Heavens. With the passing of #barryhumphries we lose an all-time great. Lightning quick, subversive, mischievous, widely read,deeply knowledgeable about art, music & literature- & savagely funny. Dame Edna arguably the greatest comic persona ever. Les Patterson too. True genius.
— Rory Bremner 💙🇺🇦 (@rorybremner) April 22, 2023
"Lightning quick, subversive, mischievous, widely read, deeply knowledgeable about art, music & literature- & savagely funny.
"Dame Edna arguably the greatest comic persona ever. Les Patterson too. True genius."
Little Britain star Lucas, who shared a picture of the pair together, described Humphries as "quite simply the greatest".
He wrote: "I wonder if all geniuses are as lovely as Barry Humphries. Thank you for delighting and inspiring us."
Meanwhile, former Mock The Week host O Briain described Humphries as "one of the absolute funniest people ever".
RIP Barry Humphries, one of the absolute funniest people ever. A huge life, lived long and well. He will be missed.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) April 22, 2023
Fellow Australian and Last Leg host Adam Hills posted an image of Barry Humphris and also said it was "appropriate" Barry Humphries "took his final bow on a Saturday night".
"RIP Barry Humphries. One of the greatest comedians of our time," he tweeted. "He was nothing but an utter gentleman to me, and occasionally a Dame. Appropriately, he took his final bow on a Saturday night."
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) April 22, 2023
Comedian Jimmy Carr, who is on tour in Australia, tweeted: "A bit bittersweet doing gigs in Australia this evening, Barry Humphries has past and no one will ever be as good at crowd work again."
Australian actor Jason Donovan also posted a picture of himself as a young man posing with Humphries dressed as Dame Edna, tweeting: "Australia has lost one of its greatest.
"Funny, literate and fiercely intelligent. Barry Humphries was quite simply an entertaining genius. The characters he created brought laughter to millions."
Australia has lost one of its greatest!
— Jason Donovan (@JDonOfficial) April 22, 2023
Funny, literate and fiercely intelligent
Barry Humphries was quite simply an entertaining genius.
The characters he created brought laughter to millions …
My thoughts are with family on this sad day! pic.twitter.com/5YuozMmzHI
Episodes from Barry Humphries’ "hugely popular" BBC Radio 2 series Forgotten Music Masterpieces will be played in tribute to the late entertainer, the UK broadcaster confirmed.
Laura Busson, commissioning executive for Radio 2, said: "Everyone at Radio 2 is saddened to hear of the passing of Barry Humphries.
"His six Radio 2 series of Barry Humphries’ Forgotten Music Masterpieces were hugely popular with our audience, and we will publish some of these programmes on BBC Sounds today for listeners to enjoy, in tribute to Barry."
Source: Press Association
