Satirist John Bird dies on Christmas Eve – Rory Bremner calls him ‘one of the greatest’
Comedian John Bird died peacefully on Christmas Eve aged 86, almost nine years to the day after his comedy partner John Fortune passed away.
Rory Bremner, who was one member of the trio Bremner, Bird and Fortune, has paid tribute, calling him “one of the greatest satirists”.
A statement announcing Bird’s death said he died “peacefully” at Pendean care home in West Sussex, and that a family funeral will be followed by a celebration of his life in the new year.
Rory Bremner (C) on stage with Bird (L) and John Fortune (R)
Bird was best known for sketches performed alongside Fortune and Bremner, in Channel 4’s satirical show Bremner, Bird And Fortune.
Paying tribute on Twitter, Bremner wrote: “Deeply saddened to hear that the great John Bird has left us. One of the most modest of men and most brilliant of satirists. And one of the last surviving pillars of the anti-establishment.
“I used to watch from the wings and marvel at how the two friends made it look so effortless, so blissfully funny, their skill and enjoyment in the moment making light of the seriously detailed research that went into each piece.”
Bird and Fortune’s well-known series of comedy skits known as The Long Johns, saw the men interview one another, taking on the roles of bumbling politicians, military figures and businessmen.
They were nominated for four Baftas and won the TV award for their performance in 1997.
In a longer statement, impressionist Bremner wrote: “It’s an irony that one of our greatest satirists, so brilliant at portraying ministers, civil servants or high-ranking officials who exuded self-satisfaction, was himself so modest and self-effacing.
“John Bird was, to the end, never pleased with himself, always feeling he should have done better, been less lazy, had a late period like Brahms, ‘where everything was spare and abstract’.
“The reality was that he and his friend and collaborator John Fortune, together with Peter Cook, were pillars of the anti-establishment.”
The Long Johns
Bremner said it was “striking” Bird had died on Christmas Eve “nine years, almost to the day” after Fortune, who died aged 74 on New Year’s Eve in 2013.
“Lord knows, satire has missed them this last decade and now that loss is permanent. John may not have felt he got his life right, but by God he got it written.”
Bird, Bremner and Fortune collaborated in BBC shows Now Something Else and The Rory Bremner Show and Channel 4 series Rory Bremner, Who Else?
Bird also starred in the BBC Radio 4 and BBC Two series Absolute Power with Stephen Fry, and was a contributor to the early 1960s satirical show That Was The Week That Was (TWTWTW).
Capable of both comic and straight performances, Bird made appearances in fantasy comedy film Jabberwocky, Dennis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills, comedy shows Yes, Prime Minister, A Very Peculiar Practice, Chambers and One Foot In The Grave and detective shows Jonathan Creek, Inspector Morse and Midsomer Murders.
(L-R): Bird, Anthony Holland, Eleanor Bron, Barry Humphries, Andrew Duncan and John Wells
As for the classics, he played the Duke of Albany in the 1983 BBC Television Shakespeare production of King Lear.
Venturing into children’s TV too, he played Mr Humphrey Atkins, the roguish father of Marmalade Atkins (played by Charlotte Coleman) and was a guest star in Sooty & Co.
In 2007, Bird and Fortune revived their show in a special called The Last Laugh which was broadcast on ITV’s The South Bank Show.
They were later credited with having been among the first to predict the seriousness of the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Bird in 1966
Born in Nottingham, Bird went to a grammar school before studying at King’s College, Cambridge, where he met his future comedy partner Fortune.
A member of the university’s famous amateur dramatics club, Footlights – which has been the starting block for a host of stars – Bird directed comedian Peter Cook and actress Eleanor Bron in the club’s 1959 annual revue.
Bird went on to join the Royal Court Theatre as an assistant director, host the first episode of West End comedy Beyond The Fringe, and direct Austrian-American singer Lotte Lenya in a Brecht revue.
In 1961 he opened nightclub the Establishment Club with Cook in London, and in 1963 in New York, but both clubs closed after a few years.
Bird is survived by his wife Libby, a concert pianist, along with his step-sons Dan and Josh.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
Entertainment
Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home
An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.
Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.
The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.
Both had died from gunshot wounds.
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.
According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.
Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.
“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
Entertainment
Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester
Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.
Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.
While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.
People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic
Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.
“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.
“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.
“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”
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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig
The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.
The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.
More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.
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John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.
He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.
“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.
“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”
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