Goodbye possums
Dame Edna star Barry, 89, dies after surgery for a broken hip
COMEDIAN Barry Humphries, who brought laughter to millions with characters as diverse as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, has died aged 89.
The comic genius, who had surgery in February for a broken hip, had been rushed back to hospital on Wednesday.
He was said at the time to be upbeat and “cracking jokes” with visitors, in spite of his worsening condition.
The Australian star was best known in the UK for comedy talk show The Dame
Edna Experience – on which the glitzy but bored
1950s
Melbourne housewife interviewed celebrities including Liza Minnelli and Sean Connery, catching them off guard with her caustic humour.
Humphries also won acclaim for another creation, Sir Les Patterson – an uncouth, drunken “cultural attache” who he once joked brought “worldwide discredit upon Australian arts and
culture”. He also had success acting in musical theatre in London’s West End, and was a talented landscape painter, film producer, author and scriptwriter.
The comedian died yesterday with his family by his side – including his fourth wife, actress Lizzie Spender, four children and 10 grandchildren.
He had broken his hip tripping on a rug while reaching for a book.
His family said: “With over 70 years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up until the last year of his life. His audiences were precious to him, and he never took them for granted.”
Describing him as “a collector and lover of art in all its forms”, they added: “He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit. The characters he created will live on.”
Sons Rupert and Oscar had rushed from their homes in London to join daughters Emily and Tessa at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where he died.
Fellow Aussie writer and comic Kathy Lette tweeted yesterday: “Farewell to my favourite person.”
Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain called Humphries “one of the absolute funniest people ever”, adding: “A huge life, lived long and well. He will be missed.”
Comic pal Rob Brydon said he was with the star three days ago when “he was, as ever, making me laugh”. He added: “A true great. His talent shone until the very end.”
EXCLUSIVE
THE I’m A Celebrity camp was rocked by a royal row between Carol Vorderman and Janice Dickinson.
Viewers will see US model Janice, 68, lay into 62-year-old Countdown legend Carol’s views on the monarchy.
A source said fellow campmates Paul Burrell – an ex-royal butler – and Helen Flanagan leapt to Carol’s defence.
The insider said: “It was a really explosive bust-up… Janice was effing and blinding. The row began over the Royal Family – Janice believes it needs to go, while Carol is a supporter of the monarchy.
“Janice can be quite abrasive and things got very heated.
“She said Carol’s views were old-fashioned and dated while
Carol hit back that Janice was crass and obnoxious. She and Carol are both strong women with strong opinions. It was a personality clash that was bound to explode.”
Speaking last week about her jungle experience on ITV’s Lorraine, Carol said she had made firm friends with the cast. But when quizzed about Janice, she replied: “We’ll not talk about her so much.” Meanwhile, Janice revealed ahead of the launch: “Everything went on. There were ups, there were downs, there was lots of laughter and lots of tears.”
The show, which was pre-recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park last year, begins tomorrow night.
It will see celebs from previous series compete to be the first I’m A Celebrity Legend, supervised by Ant and
Dec. But Janice, who took part in the jungle show in 2007, had to quit when she ended up in hospital after falling in the dark on her way to the dunny.
Our source went on: “The camp was a much calmer place after she left. Janice is great telly but she did rub people up the wrong way.”
Tonight will see Janice, Paul and Shaun Ryder take on the Trees of Torment challenge – floating on a raft while trying to retrieve stars from holes full of critters.
Carol, Jordan Banjo and Amir Khan will walk the plank 50 metres above ground in the Deadly Drop.
And Helen Flanagan, Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell will tackle Newton’s Cradle, in which one celebrity has to turn a load of giant red balls into a bridge for the others.
ITV last night declined to comment on the bust-up.