He also had a successful parallel career as a singer. He was a crooner, putting out unfashionable albums that consistently charted well. He embraced his status as the butt of jokes, appearing on Morecambe and Wise throughout the s as Eric Morecambe regularly insulted his comedic ability and singing voice.
In reality he was friends with the duo, who he had met while performing in Hull in the s. He had rickets as a child and used a wheelchair.
She added that being picked as his co-host for the daytime show was "one the greatest days of my professional life". The TV star added: "It was an education and a privilege to work with him for the years that followed. We worked long hours but always laughed lots, not least because when it it was showtime he would always tell me I looked like robbers dog!
Darling Des you will be forever missed. Among those to pay tribute was writer and comedian Gyles Brandreth, who wrote on Twitter: "Des O'Connor was such a nice, nice man.
The ultimate professional, an impeccable entertainer, skilful, stylish, self-deprecating, fun to be with, lovely to know. Thanks for the fun. In a tweet he wrote: "Des O'Connor was such a nice, nice man. Thanks for the fun". Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: "So sorry to hear of the death of entertainer, comedian and all round lovely man Des O'Connor.
Even now, the saddest I have ever felt, Daddy can still make me laugh. Thank you. Entertainer Des passed away on 14 November at the age of 88 following a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire. He was married four times, and has described the end of his first three relationships as casualties of his obsession with work.
In , he married long-term girlfriend Jodie Brooke Wilson , who was 37 years his junior and gave birth to their son Adam when Des was Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. O'Connor appeared on stages around the world including hundreds of shows at the London Palladium.
He later hosted the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown alongside Carol Vorderman, with the pair bowing out together in , and was made a CBE for his services to entertainment and broadcasting in that year's birthday honours. O'Connor was married four times, and has described the end of his first three relationships as casualties of his obsession with work. In , he married long-term girlfriend Jodie Brooke Wilson, who was 37 years his junior and gave birth to their son Adam when O'Connor was Tributes have been paid following his death, with Countdown co-host Vorderman saying he was a born entertainer and it had been a "complete joy to work with him".
She wrote on Instagram: "He had talent in every fibre of his being and was stubborn as a mule. He was the full ticket as a friend and colleague. Broadcaster Tony Blackburn said "he was a great entertainer and more importantly a very nice person", and TV presenter Gyles Brandreth described him as "the ultimate professional".
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