John Bird dead: Bremner, Bird And Fortune star dies aged 86 as comedians pay tribute to ‘brilliant’ actor
BELOVED comedian John Bird has died at the age of 86 with tributes have poured in from fellow stars.
Bird’s friend and comedy partner Rory Bremner confirmed the star’s death death as he remembered him as “one of our great satirists”.
Reports suggest that the star died peacefully on Christmas Eve.
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.”
Bird rose to fame alongside Fortune and Bremner through their Channel 4 sketch show Bremner, Bird And Fortune, which ran from 1999 to 2010.
Bremner went on to say how it was “striking” that Bird had died on Christmas Eve, which was “nine years, almost to the day” after Fortune passed away on New Year’s Eve 2013.
He added: “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.”
Comedian Angela Barnes said: “Ahh RIP John Bird, you were wonderful in Bremner Bird and Fortune, and Absolute Power and other satirical shows.
“However to me, and probably to others of my vintage, you will always be remembered as Marmalade Atkins’ Dad.”
Actor Tony Gardner said: “Honoured to have spent time in the company of John Bird while making TV and Radio over the years.
“A wonderful gentleman, hugely talented, incredibly funny and with ALL the stories. RIP John. x”
‘A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN’
Bird and Fortune were nominated for four Baftas, winning one in 1997.
The trio also collaborated on BBC shows Now Something Else and The Rory Bremner Show.
Meanwhile, Bird appeared in the film Jabberwocky and in comedy shows including Yes, Prime Minister and One Foot in the Grave.
Bremner continued: “They realised that true satire lay not in ad hominem attacks on politicians but in exposing the cant behind the ‘discipline of the market’ and the culture of privatisation where chief executives were rewarded for success and equally compensated for failure.”
Bird was born in Nottingham and played an active role in The Footlights at Cambridge University, before joining the Royal Court Theatre and beginning a career in comedy.
He is survived by his wife Libby, who is a concert pianist, and his step-sons Dan and Josh.