Barry David Elliott obit

Chuckle Brothers star Barry dies at 73

 

He was not on the list.

Barry Chuckle, one half of the comedy duo the Chuckle Brothers, has died aged 73 after a short period of ill health.

The entertainer, whose real name was Barry Elliott, starred in ChuckleVision with his brother Paul on the BBC between 1987 and 2009.

Paul said: "I've not just lost my brother, I've lost my theatrical partner of many, many years and my very best friend."

Fans have paid tribute on Twitter, with many thanking him "for the laughs".

Earlier this year, the brothers returned to the small screen with a new show, Chuckle Time, on Channel 5.

The star had been unwell towards the end of the new show's filming.

Summer work was cancelled while Barry rested at his doctor's request, but not long after his health deteriorated.

Manager Phil Dale said that the filming of their latest show had recalled the "wonderful days" of ChuckleVision.

He said: "It is with great sadness that the family announce that Barry passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Ann and all his family.

"The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have been fans of the Chuckle Brothers and they know that they will share in part the great, great loss they feel."

Mr Dale said Barry "leaves 50 years of laughter as his legacy, which is something very special".

Paul's wife Sue thanked fans for the outpouring of supportive messages.

She said: "Barry would be so happy to know how much he was loved."

The duo - who performed for friends and family in their backyard before becoming famous - started their careers as The Chuckles on ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1967.

Emma Bullimore from the TV Times said the Chuckle Brothers were "pure silliness and joy" and a "staple part of so many childhoods".

"They had such a twinkle in their eye," she said. "They seemed to really enjoy what they were doing and that came to the screen. Everyone felt really happy watching them."

From Rotherham and honorary presidents of Rotherham United FC

Two older brothers, Jimmy and Brian, also formed a double-act, the Patton Brothers, and have appeared on ChuckleVision

The Chuckles won ITV talent shows Opportunity Knocks in 1967 and New Faces in 1974

ChuckleVision ran for 292 episodes between 1987 and 2009

They received a special award at the Children's Baftas in 2008.

They recorded a charity single titled To Me, To You (Bruv) with Tinchy Stryder in aid of the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust in 2014

They gave evidence at Dave Lee Travis's 2014 indecent assault trial - they were performing in panto with him in 1990 when the alleged assault took place. Travis was later cleared

They were seen playing a magician (Paul) and his assistant (Barry in drag) on TV comedy Benidorm in March

They starred in a new short film about Joseph Grimaldi, the 19th Century "king of clowns", titled The Funniest Man In The World, with Barry playing Grimaldi.

Many viewers who grew up watching ChuckleVision - which ran for 292 episodes - expressed sadness on social media.

David Walliams, who performed with the Chuckle Brothers in a 2013 Comic Relief sketch, said they were "dazzling talents" who were the "last link" to British music hall tradition.

Comedian and actor Jack Whitehall said he had been "obsessed" with the Chuckle brothers when he was younger.

CBeebies presenter Chris Jarvis said Barry was hilarious on and off stage - but also "the kindest of gentlemen".

And children's presenters Dick and Dom called him "a genuine old school entertainer who simply loved performing".

Former heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno said the comedian had "left happy memories for so many people".

Rapper Tinchy Stryder, who recorded a charity single with the brothers, also paid tribute to the "funny, down to earth, super cool, talented, humble legend".

"A true Variety great," wrote comedian and presenter Les Dennis, who appeared on ITV's New Faces in the same year as The Chuckles, as they were then known.

Paddy McGuinness, star of Phoenix Nights and Take Me Out, called Barry "one of my favourites from my childhood years, teenage years and as an adult!"

"Another piece of our childhood gone", tweeted broadcaster Tony Shepherd, while one woman said: "RIP Barry Chuckle. As a kid I absolutely loved getting in from school and watching #Chucklevision."

Bafta, which gave the Chuckle Brothers a special award in 2008, tweeted: "We're deeply saddened to learn of the death of Barry Elliott, known as Barry Chuckle."

And the BBC, which aired ChuckleVision, said Barry will be "treasured as one of the iconic children's entertainers of a generation".

Alice Webb, the director of BBC Children's, said: "Off air, Barry was a gentleman and consummate professional, respected by all who worked with him, he will be sorely missed."

Other fans called him a "staple of my childhood" and "one of my childhood heroes".

Actor

Paul Bazely, Janine Duvitski, Kate Fitzgerald, Julie Graham, Selina Griffiths, Tim Healy, Sherrie Hewson, Elsie Kelly, Bobby Knutt, Tony Maudsley, Johnny Vegas, Steve Edge, Jake Canuso, Shelley Longworth, Adam Gillen, Josh Bolt, Nathan Bryon, and Danny Walters in Benidorm (2007)

Benidorm

7.5

TV Series

Crostini & Co (as 'The Chuckle Brothers')

2018

1 episode

 

Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World (2017)

Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World

7.1

Short

Joe Grimaldi

2017

 

David Walliams and Jack Whitehall in Walliams & Friend (2015)

Walliams & Friend

6.1

TV Series

Barry Chuckle

2016

2 episodes

 

Jack Dee, Beattie Edmondson, Josh Widdicombe, and Elis James in Josh (2014)

Josh

6.7

TV Series

Barry (as The Chuckle Brothers)

2015

1 episode

 

Stephen Fry, Sheridan Smith, and Miranda Hart in Comic Relief: National Treasures (2015)

Comic Relief: National Treasures

8.4

TV Movie

National treasure contestant

2015

 

David Jason in Still Open All Hours (2013)

Still Open All Hours

6.4

TV Series

Mr. Marshall (as Barry Elliott)

2013–2015

3 episodes

 

Barry Chuckle and Paul Chuckle in ChuckleVision (1987)

ChuckleVision

7.2

TV Series

Barry Chuckle

Uncle Ritchie

McChuckle (as The Chuckle Brothers) ...

1987–2009

293 episodes

 

Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin in Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002)

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

6.1

TV Series

Declan Donnelly

2009

1 episode

 

Chuckle Brothers: Indiana Chuckles and the Kingdom of the Mythical Sulk (2008)

Chuckle Brothers: Indiana Chuckles and the Kingdom of the Mythical Sulk

Video

2008

 

Barry Chuckle and Paul Chuckle in Chuckle Brothers - Spooky Goings on Live (2007)

Chuckle Brothers - Spooky Goings on Live

Video

Barry Chuckle

2007

 

M.U.G.E.N (1999)

M.U.G.E.N

Video Game

1999

 

Jacks and the Beanstalk

TV Movie

First Jack

1991

 

The Chucklehounds

7.0

TV Series

Little Chuckle

1984–1986

14 episodes

 

The Freddie Starr Showcase

7.3

TV Series

(as The Chuckle Brothers)

1983

1 episode

 

Writer

Barry Chuckle and Paul Chuckle in ChuckleVision (1987)

ChuckleVision

7.2

TV Series

writer

1987–1996

13 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World (2017)

Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World

7.1

Short

Rest In Peace Barry "Chuckle" Elliot 24th December 1944 - 5th August 2018

2017