Stars and fans have paid tribute to the 5ft 1in comedy giant Ronnie Corbett at Westminster Abbey with four candles, referencing the famous sketch, placed “centre stage” (Jeremy Watson writes).
Dame Barbara Windsor, the actress Joanna Lumley, the comedians Jimmy Tarbuck, Stephen Fry, Ben Elton, Graham Norton and David Walliams were among those who attended the packed service of thanksgiving.
The Scottish comedian’s trademark armchair, from which he would deliver his monologue on The Two Ronnies, was placed in the abbey in his memory.
After a procession through the abbey, four candles — rather than fork handles — were laid out behind the chair in an “oblique” reference to the duo’s famous sketch.
The joke was played to the congregation, and fans also heard Corbett and his comedy partner Ronnie Barker’s famous sign-off: “It’s goodnight from me . . . and it’s goodnight from him.”
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Tarbuck gave a moving tribute to the entertainer, who died in March last year aged 85, saying that despite his short stature, the pint-sized star was “10ft in comedic talent”.
Tarbuck told the congregation that he wanted to give his friend the knighthood he did not receive in life.
“I’m taking the opportunity to make him a knight. All those in favour say ‘aye’.”
The Very Rev Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, gave thanks to the “comic genius that gave immeasurable joy to countless people”.
The comedian Rob Brydon, left, became tearful as he recalled his friendship and golfing partnership with Corbett.
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He described how Corbett helped him to overcome his stage nerves when he heard him laugh, “out there in the darkness”, with that unmistakable, “beautiful voice”.
He added: “One of the great pleasures of my life was to walk down the street with Ronnie Corbett and witness . . . wonderful faces which would light up with joy when they saw him.”
Anne Hart, Corbett’s widow, was at the service, while the actress Penelope Keith represented the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Corbett, born in Edinburgh in 1930, became a household name as part of The Two Ronnies.
The show, which pulled in up to 22 million viewers, ran for 16 years on the BBC.