[Larry the Loafer]

It's all too easy to come off sounding like Amanda Holden and say he was anti-woke, but Barry was of that rare breed of entertainer who had you on the edge of your seat thinking about what was going to be said or done, because you knew his characters had little care about the consequences.

And I'm not talking about your "PC gone mad" nonsense, but I can't think of anyone else besides Dame Edna who could get away with momentarily sharing the royal box at the Royal Variety show, then proclaiming she's been offered better seats. Barry wasn't afraid to shock, which I don't think is the same as offending. That's what some commentators are going to try and skew, and I think that's a disservice to his skill, talent, and his courage.

Comedy is certainly a lot duller without him around anymore.