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
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
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.
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