RIP Ronnie Barker

[Jason]

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.

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.

The Two Ronnies ran for 16 years 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 it's 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 charatcer was Arkwright in Porridge, on which he worked with a young David Jason.
"We had a whale of a time," Barker recalled. "We did thoroughly enjoy that."

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.

[Col.Kurtz]

That's sad, he was in loads of good things but Porridge was my favourite.

[Rolyat]

... and it's goodnight from him

I'm sorry to hear that Ronnie Barker has passed away. He was very funny and I enjoy Open all hours and the two Ronnies. He will be sadly missed my me and everyone else.

[wayneyboy1942]

I was very sad to hear about Ronnie Barkers death, he quit when he was still at the top, he was very funny and a great loss to comedy,"Fork handles" was the best Two Ronnies sketch!!! He appealed to all the family and he will be a hard act to follow!!!

[janet]

I'm sure he will be sadly missed, he was a great entertainer.

[Poppy]

So open all hours finally closed for the last time Cheers Ronnie we'll miss you X X X

[Sweetpea]

A comic genius. He will be missed.

[Mattylad]

A sad loss to british comedy.

[Jason]

Wayney they have been showing the fok handles sketch on tv today......absolutely a classic!!

[grannyclaret]

i have a tape of their comic songs....ie i'm going to hold em tonight,,,the nutcracker.. aint it a pity ,,,,,,i will have to dig it out...

[Rolyat]

Nicked from elsewhere on the web:

Some of Ronnie Barkers best gags.

"The search for the man who terrorises 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."

"Have you heard the one about the retired general who said he had not
had sex since 1956? His friend said, 'That's a long time ago.' 'I
don't know,' the general replied. 'It's only 20.27 now."

A famous Spoonerism from Open All Hours: "Don't just crit there
siticising".

To his assistant Granville (David Jason) who is toying nervously with
the cash register in Open All Hours: "Come on, you aren't there to
play the Warsaw Concerto."

As Fletcher in Porridge, when playing monopoly: "Would you Adam and
Eve it? Go to jail!"

Again from Porridge: "What have I learned, Mr Mackay? Three things.
One - bide your time. Two - keep your nose clean. And three - don't
let the *******s grind you down."

"There was a strange happening during a performance of Elgar's Sea
Pictures at a concert hall in Bermuda tonight, when the man playing
the triangle disappeared."

"Next week we'll be investigating rumours that the president of the
dairy council has become a Mason, and goes around giving his
colleagues the secret milkshake."

"We'll continue our investigation into the political beliefs of
nudists. We've already noticed a definite swing to the left."

"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 prime minister held a meeting with the cabinet today. He also
spoke to the bookcase and argued with the chest of drawers."

"Following the dispute with the domestic servants' union at Buckingham
Palace today, the Queen, a radiant figure in a white silk gown and
crimson robe, swept down the main staircase and through the hall. She
then dusted the cloakroom and vacuumed the lounge."

"The West Drayton man who has kept himself awake every night for 17
years by snoring has at least found the answer. He's going to sleep in
another room."

[Darkstar]

What a shame, he was one of the best. Let's hope England keeps making comics to his standard.

[Poppy]

Your right Jason I havent been able to light candles without thingking fork andles for years did you see the prog last night its so strange now so many of th porrige characters are gone. we dont seem to get new comedy charactor actors its very sad

[grannyclaret]

i liked the morris dances ,,and the ballerinas,,,,the musical ones were my favourites,,,