British comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor has passed away at the age of 79 after contracting coronavirus. His agent confirmed the news on Sunday, in a statement which read: “It is with great sadness that we announce Tim’s death early today from Covid-19.”
Best known for being part of TV comedy trio The Goodies, in which he starred alongside Bill Oddie and Graema Garden, as well At Last the 1948 Show (1967), Bananaman (1983-88) and radio shows including BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, Brooke-Taylor is one of the most beloved on-screen characters of British comedy.
Born in Buxton, Derbyshire, Tim got into comedy whilst at Cambridge University, where he was president of the Cambridge Footlights alongside Monty Python legend John Cleese. He went on to co-create and star, alongside Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman, in At Last the 1948 Show, before becoming a household name in The Goodies, which ran from 1970 to 1982.
Tributes flooded in for Brooke-Taylor online as friends, colleagues and fans reminisced about their time working with the funny-man, or memories of growing up watching The Goodies.
His former co-star Bill Oddie wrote on Twitter: “Fifty years and he only got cross with me once… well maybe twice… no quite a lot actually! No one could wear silly costumes or do dangerous stunts like Tim. I know it hurt cos he used to cry a lot. Sorry Timbo. A true visual comic and a great friend x.”
While fellow Goodie Garden said: “It’s devastating to lose a friend and colleague of 50+ years. Fun, sociable and adorably silly, Tim was a class act. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Former Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams wrote: “I was obsessed with ‘The Goodies’ as a child, the first comedy show I really loved. I queued up to get the Goodies’ autographs as a grown-up, and got to meet Tim Brooke-Taylor more recently at a party. I was in total awe, but he was so kind & generous. It is so sad he is gone.”
Comedian, and star of Gavin & Stacey, Rob Brydon wrote: “So sad to hear that the great Tim Brooke Taylor has died. A wonderful man, so many happy times sat next to him on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue … My thoughts are with his family.”
While television star Stephen Fry said: “Just heard the devastating news of the death of Tim Brooke-Taylor. A hero for as long as I can remember, and –on a few golden occasions – a colleague and collaborator on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. Gentle, kind, funny, wise, warm, but piercingly witty when he chose to be. So sad.”
Fans also honoured the star, with one writing: “Beloved by all Australians of a certain age who grew up watching The Goodies just before tea time because we thought it was a kids’ show.”
Another devastated supporter commented: “The Goodies is one of the first programmes I remember watching – and I found it hilarious. Still to this day, when I look at the Post Office (BT) Tower, I imagine a giant kitten.” While another said: “This man was a huge part of my childhood; and my dad made discs of old Goodies reels so he could be part of my kids’ childhood too.”