Des O’Connor was the ‘ultimate entertainer’

There’s a tradition in the US that involves the lights on Broadway being dimmed whenever a leading theatrical figure passes away.

It would have been fitting if the London Palladium had done something similar after the news broke that Des O’Connor had died following a fall at his home last month. It had, after all, been a sort of home from home during his long career – he performed solo there more than 1,000 times.

Celebrities across the country lined up to pay tribute to a man fondly remembered by all those who met them.

“I had the privilege of being on his show many times and he was a wonderful, generous host, always wanting his guests to shine,” said Russ Abbott. “He really was the ultimate entertainer but, even more, he was a thoroughly nice man. No ifs or buts. He always had a smile on his face and his giggle was legendary!

“He will be sorely missed.”

O’Connor’s former TV co-host Melanie Sykes also spoke fondly of him; the pair spent four years hosting Today with Des and Mel from 2002.

In an Instagram post she said O’Connor “had the softest hands of anyone I ever met. 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.

“When he chose me to be his co host on the ‘Today’ daytime show it was one the greatest days of my professional life. It was an education and a privilege to work with him.”

Even Northampton Town Football Club paid their respects on Twitter: “We are sorry to hear of the passing of Des O’Connor. Des famously played for our reserve team on a few occasions just after World War 2. Our thoughts are with all who knew Des.”

Had he gone on to fulfil his early promise as a sportsman, we might never have got to know O’Connor the funnyman and singer – but football’s loss was the wider public’s gain.

After completing his national service in the RAF, he became a redcoat at Butlin’s before making a name for himself as a comedian in variety theatre. From there, TV beckoned and he never looked back.

O’Connor was a hit around the world, appearing at such venues as the Glasgow Empire, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House and Toronto’s O’Keefe Centre.

But he will be best remembered in Britain for his TV work, including his long-running chat show and, of course, his regular ’spats’ with Morecambe and Wise (with whom he was actually great friends), who poked fun at his singing capabilities – despite the fact he released many popular albums and hit No 1 with the single I Pretend in 1968.

O’Connor was a genuinely warm figure and millions of us grew up watching him, so when his loss was announced, it was almost as if a favourite uncle had died.

While paying tribute to his friend, Jimmy Tarbuck confirmed something we suspected about the always-cheerful Des – that he knew the true value of enjoying yourself: “‘This isn’t work,’ he told me once,” said Tarby. “‘I’ve never worked a day in my life.’ What a prince among men.”

And so say all of us.

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