Tributes to comedy ‘genius’ Eric Sykes

Tributes have been paid to “a monumental man of comedy” Eric Sykes following his death at the age of 89.

The star, best remembered for acting in and writing long-running TV sitcom Sykes And A... with Hattie Jacques, died yesterday morning after a short illness.

His manager Norma Farnes said that the star of TV, stage and films “died peacefully” and that “his family were with him”.

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Sykes wrote scripts for comedians such as Peter Sellers, Frankie Howerd and Tony Hancock and penned material for The Goon Show.

His film credits included Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), The Others (2001) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

The star, who was also a novelist, director and producer, began his career writing for hit BBC radio shows before moving into TV. Sykes continued working on screen and on the West End stage into his 80s, despite his failing vision and hearing.

Comedian Ken Dodd said that Sykes was “a joy to be with, a wonderful man to know... a genius at creating comedy.

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“He found laughter in anything. More than anything else, he loved everybody and everybody loved him,” he said.

Sir Bruce Forsyth called the “gentle” Oldham-born star “one of the greats of comedy in this country. Actor Bernard Cribbins, who starred in two of Sykes’s comedy shorts, The Plank (1979) and It’s Your Move (1969), also paid tribute, saying he would be sadly missed.

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