Stars flock to abbey for Ronnie Corbett tribute
STARS turned out in force to pay tribute to late comedy legend Ronnie Corbett at Westminster Abbey yesterday, including Welsh comedian Rob Brydon, who broke down as he spoke of their friendship.
The Port Talbot-born comedy star described how Corbett helped him overcome his nerves when he heard him laugh, “out there in the darkness”, with that “unmistakable, beautiful voice” while on stage early in his career in Croydon “living the dream”.
The pair became firm friends after Corbett visited Brydon backstage. “In these horribly dark and troubled times he’s brought us all together... We will never forget you,” he said.
“One of the great pleasures of my life was to walk down the street with Ronnie Corbett and witness... wonderful faces which would light up with joy when they saw him.”
Dame Barbara Windsor, actress Joanna Lumley, comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, Stephen Fry, Ben Elton, Graham Norton, David Walliams and Sir Bruce Forsyth’s wife, Lady Wilnelia Forsyth, also attended the packed service of thanksgiving.
Corbett’s trademark armchair, from which he would deliver his monologue on The Two Ronnies, was placed in the abbey in his memory.
Four candles, after a procession through the abbey, were laid out behind the chair in an “oblique” reference to the duo’s famous ironmonger’s-shop sketch.