TRIBUTES were paid to comedian Ronnie Corbett, the “brilliant little man”, who died yesterday at the age of 85. He had been ill for some time and was hospitalised in 2014 with bladder problems.

His publicist said yesterday: “Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the nation’s best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family. They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time

During the 70s and 80s The Two Ronnies were one of the biggest draws on television, regularly attracting audiences of 22 million.

It was old-fashioned, occasionally a little blue, often very clever and always exceptionally funny.

“This is rather a special evening” Corbett said in one of his trademark sit-down monologues, looking straight down the camera, “because it is exactly ten years ago tonight when she said, ‘I do’. Which certainly surprised me, because I didn’t think she did.”

The oldest of three children, his dad William was a baker at McVitie’s in Edinburgh, and his mum Annie, who worked in a telephone exchange. Corbett was educated at the Royal High School, before working in an office at the animal feeding stuffs department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The civil service was not for him. It was in the 60s when he was offered a chance to join the Frost Report on the BBC that his career in light entertainment took off. It was here he met his comedy partner Ronnie Barker, and started a working relationship that would last right up until that man’s retirement 1987. The Two Ronnies ran from 1971 to 1987, and attracted up to 22 million viewers, making them household names.

There were other successes, including the sitcom Sorry! Where he played Timothy Lumsden, a middle-aged librarian still living with his mother. The catchphrase “Language Timothy” trended on Twitter yesterday morning as more people heard the news of his death.

One of his more memorable appearances in the later stages of his career was in an episode of Ricky Gervais’s sitcom Extras in 2006, where Corbett played himself snorting cocaine with fellow actors in the loos at the Baftas.

Ken Dodd described him as a “brilliant little man” who was the “best sit down comic ever”.

Paying tribute to the star, the tickle stick funnyman said: “He excelled in all different branches of show business, he was a brilliant actor, an excellent comedian, a wonderful storyteller. His timing was superb.

“Ronnie was a very good, nice person. He was a very good friend and a brilliant little man – he was a great personality.”

John Cleese who worked with Corbett on the Frost Report tweeted: “Just heard about Ronnie C.So sad.He had the best timing I’ve ever watched.He was a great, kind mentor and a wonderfully witty companion.”

Comedian Michael Palin told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “Ronnie had a great sense of silliness, which I responded to greatly. He could do the serious stuff as well but there was a lovely sort of mischief, his eyes twinkled. He was absolutely delightful to play with and against, and do material with”

Sir Michael Parkinson, one of Corbett’s close friends was distraught: “He was a very easy man to love. He was a perfect companion. He was bright. He could tell good stories. He was funny. He was very rarely depressed. Anne, his wife, she’ll be distraught. I mean, it was a great marriage. They’ve been together for many, many years, and it was a very loving partnership. We were just mates and I shall miss him terribly.”

Sir Bruce Forsyth said it was: “one of the saddest days of my life. Ronnie was a friend, someone I admired so much. It’s a very, very sad day. I’m going to miss him like crazy.”