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| Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85 | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Comedian Frank Carson, best known for the catchphrases "It's a cracker" and "It's the way I tell 'em", has died aged 85. | |
| Carson had suffered from poor health and his family said he passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire. | Carson had suffered from poor health and his family said he passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire. |
| The Belfast-born comic rose to fame in the 1960s after winning talent show Opportunity Knocks three times. The Comedians was among his TV shows. | The Belfast-born comic rose to fame in the 1960s after winning talent show Opportunity Knocks three times. The Comedians was among his TV shows. |
| TV presenter Eamonn Holmes said: "We will never ever see his like again." | TV presenter Eamonn Holmes said: "We will never ever see his like again." |
| Carson had a successful operation for stomach cancer last year but had told the BBC his health had been a problem for some time. | Carson had a successful operation for stomach cancer last year but had told the BBC his health had been a problem for some time. |
| His family's statement said the "husband, father, Gaga and comedian set off for his final gig today". | His family's statement said the "husband, father, Gaga and comedian set off for his final gig today". |
| 'Bundle of energy' | 'Bundle of energy' |
| "He went peacefully at his home in Blackpool surrounded by his greatest fans - his extended family. We will be taking him home to Belfast to lay him to rest and celebrate his joyful life. | "He went peacefully at his home in Blackpool surrounded by his greatest fans - his extended family. We will be taking him home to Belfast to lay him to rest and celebrate his joyful life. |
| "It's quieter down here now. God help them up there!!" | "It's quieter down here now. God help them up there!!" |
| Holmes, who was a long-term friend, said: "The term legend is often overused - but Frank Carson was a legend and we will never ever see his likes again. | Holmes, who was a long-term friend, said: "The term legend is often overused - but Frank Carson was a legend and we will never ever see his likes again. |
| "I knew him since I was a child because he was a friend of my father. He was just a complete bundle of energy and at 85 he was still going and still cracking jokes." | "I knew him since I was a child because he was a friend of my father. He was just a complete bundle of energy and at 85 he was still going and still cracking jokes." |
| Carson, the son of a binman, was born in Belfast on 6 November 1926 to a family of Italian descent. | Carson, the son of a binman, was born in Belfast on 6 November 1926 to a family of Italian descent. |
| He grew up in the Little Italy area of the city and worked as a plasterer and electrician, and then joined the Parachute Regiment. | He grew up in the Little Italy area of the city and worked as a plasterer and electrician, and then joined the Parachute Regiment. |
| He served for three years in the Middle East in the 1950s, before his attention turned to showbusiness. | He served for three years in the Middle East in the 1950s, before his attention turned to showbusiness. |
| Spotted for his stand-up work, he became a popular performer on Irish television before moving to England. | Spotted for his stand-up work, he became a popular performer on Irish television before moving to England. |
| The comedian appeared in the TV music hall revival show The Good Old Days, before his appearances on Opportunity Knocks propelled him into the mainstream. | The comedian appeared in the TV music hall revival show The Good Old Days, before his appearances on Opportunity Knocks propelled him into the mainstream. |
| He went on to appear alongside fellow comics Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen in the 1970s TV series, The Comedians. | He went on to appear alongside fellow comics Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen in the 1970s TV series, The Comedians. |
| A familiar face on British TV for the next two decades, Carson's other shows included Who Do You Do? and variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. | A familiar face on British TV for the next two decades, Carson's other shows included Who Do You Do? and variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. |
| He became known for his self-deprecating sense of humour. | He became known for his self-deprecating sense of humour. |
| Papal honour | Papal honour |
| In 1975, Carson signed up to play Paddy O'Brien in Spike Milligan sitcom The Melting Pot, but the show was cancelled shortly after the first episode was broadcast. | In 1975, Carson signed up to play Paddy O'Brien in Spike Milligan sitcom The Melting Pot, but the show was cancelled shortly after the first episode was broadcast. |
| He later claimed Milligan had mocked his constant stream of wisecracks by writing a joke of his own: "What's the difference between Frank Carson and the M1? You can turn off the M1." | He later claimed Milligan had mocked his constant stream of wisecracks by writing a joke of his own: "What's the difference between Frank Carson and the M1? You can turn off the M1." |
| Carson continued to work following a heart operation in 1976, and was a frequent guest on children's series Tiswas. | Carson continued to work following a heart operation in 1976, and was a frequent guest on children's series Tiswas. |
| He was also at home on radio, appearing alongside David Frost and Leslie Crowther on 1980s BBC Radio 2 show Pull The Other One. | He was also at home on radio, appearing alongside David Frost and Leslie Crowther on 1980s BBC Radio 2 show Pull The Other One. |
| In 1987, Pope John Paul II knighted Carson into the order of St Gregory at a private audience in Rome, in recognition of his charity work in Northern Ireland. | In 1987, Pope John Paul II knighted Carson into the order of St Gregory at a private audience in Rome, in recognition of his charity work in Northern Ireland. |
| "He kissed me and said I was a wonderful man," Carson later told the Daily Mail. | "He kissed me and said I was a wonderful man," Carson later told the Daily Mail. |
| "I was in there for 17 minutes - the priests time it. President Reagan only got 11, so that was nice." | "I was in there for 17 minutes - the priests time it. President Reagan only got 11, so that was nice." |
| Despite his showbusiness career, the comedian also served as Mayor of Balbriggan in North Dublin twice. | Despite his showbusiness career, the comedian also served as Mayor of Balbriggan in North Dublin twice. |
| "It is my favourite place in the world," said Carson, who spent his honeymoon in the area, "it always brings back happy memories". | "It is my favourite place in the world," said Carson, who spent his honeymoon in the area, "it always brings back happy memories". |
| Following the ascent of alternative comedy in the late 1980s, the performer largely returned to his roots in stand-up, and was performing hundreds of shows a year as recently as 2008. | Following the ascent of alternative comedy in the late 1980s, the performer largely returned to his roots in stand-up, and was performing hundreds of shows a year as recently as 2008. |
| 'Wonderful entertainer' | 'Wonderful entertainer' |
| He moved to Blackpool in later life, where he became involved with the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party. | He moved to Blackpool in later life, where he became involved with the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party. |
| Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Carson said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered around the Corporation Street in Belfast, where he grew up. | Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Carson said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered around the Corporation Street in Belfast, where he grew up. |
| He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, as well as 10 grandchildren. | He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, as well as 10 grandchildren. |
| Others to pay tribute to Carson included friend and broadcaster Chris Tarrant, who appeared with him on Tiswas. | Others to pay tribute to Carson included friend and broadcaster Chris Tarrant, who appeared with him on Tiswas. |
| Tarrant told the BBC: "I think without exception he was the funniest man I've ever met in my life. What a wonderful sense of fun and mischief and laughter. | Tarrant told the BBC: "I think without exception he was the funniest man I've ever met in my life. What a wonderful sense of fun and mischief and laughter. |
| "All our lives are the richer for Frank passing through, but the poorer for him going. He was a complete one-off." | "All our lives are the richer for Frank passing through, but the poorer for him going. He was a complete one-off." |
| Former chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson said Carson came from a different era of stand-up comedians. | Former chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson said Carson came from a different era of stand-up comedians. |
| He said: "He was a good comic and great company. He represented that front-of-cloth comedy, it's a different genre from the kind of comedy that we have today, where younger and smarter comedians play big halls - he was a club comic. | He said: "He was a good comic and great company. He represented that front-of-cloth comedy, it's a different genre from the kind of comedy that we have today, where younger and smarter comedians play big halls - he was a club comic. |
| "People's sense of humour has changed, this generation laugh at different things. At that time, comedians could talk about fat women and people with bow legs, I doubt whether he'd enjoy going on TV today, with all the strictures that are put on people. | "People's sense of humour has changed, this generation laugh at different things. At that time, comedians could talk about fat women and people with bow legs, I doubt whether he'd enjoy going on TV today, with all the strictures that are put on people. |
| "He was a good man - you're always smiling with people like Frank around." | "He was a good man - you're always smiling with people like Frank around." |
| Nationalist SDLP assembly member Alasdair McDonnell said: "Frank Carson was a truly unique and wonderful entertainer who made people laugh, and never forgot his native Belfast. | Nationalist SDLP assembly member Alasdair McDonnell said: "Frank Carson was a truly unique and wonderful entertainer who made people laugh, and never forgot his native Belfast. |
| "He lifted spirits in times of despair and during some of the worst days of the Troubles with his sparkling wit which made him very popular in Ireland and throughout Britain." | "He lifted spirits in times of despair and during some of the worst days of the Troubles with his sparkling wit which made him very popular in Ireland and throughout Britain." |