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Piers Morgan and Christopher Biggins lead tributes for ‘extraordinary’ Lionel Blair as entertainer dies aged 92

Lionel died on Thursday morning (Picture: WireImage)

Tributes have poured in for legendary entertainer Lionel Blair following his death at the age of 92. 

Blair’s management announced that the Name That Tune presenter died on Thursday morning surrounded by his loved ones. 

They said in a statement: ‘He got to a very ripe old age, he was loved by his family, and I think he died in their company, which is lovely.’ 

Piers Morgan was among the first to pay tribute, tweeting: ‘RIP Lionel Blair, 92. A wonderful all-round entertainer & lovely man. Sad news.’ 

Danny Baker said: ‘A true chum, an entertainer beyond compare, an archive of a golden era, an immeasurable talent.

‘Impossible to think he won’t be in some Green room somewhere, dropping names and living out fantastic tales. A Giant. Really.’ 

He added: ‘The greatest showbiz story I know has Lionel Blair as it’s hero. Honestly. I could tell it here.

RIP Lionel Blair, 92.
A wonderful all-round entertainer & lovely man.
Sad news. pic.twitter.com/45eCOewbCo

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 4, 2021

The greatest showbiz story I know has Lionel Blair as it’s hero. Honestly.
I could tell it here.
But I knew Lionel well. He would be, “Oh no darling, keep it for the act, don’t throw that away, are you mad?”
So I will.
Blackheath Halls January 8th-9th.
And bless you, Guvnor.

— Danny Baker (@prodnose) November 4, 2021

. Dear Lionel. Privileged to have been your dance partner. #Lionelblair ⭐️😢💔 xx pic.twitter.com/2QjRTnJpUD

— Bonnie Langford (@bonnie_langford) November 4, 2021

‘But I knew Lionel well. He would be, “Oh no darling, keep it for the act, don’t throw that away, are you mad?” So I will. Blackheath Halls January 8th-9th.

‘And bless you, Guvnor.’ 

EastEnders actress Bonnie Langford shared a black and white photo of herself performing with the late star and wrote: ‘Dear Lionel. Privileged to have been your dance partner.’ 

Stand-up comedian Ed Byrne tweeted: ‘One of the highlights of my short lived Saturday morning radio show on BBC London (which I co hosted with my mother) was when we had Lionel Blair as a guest.

Christopher Biggins was a good friend of the late entertainer (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Smoking fags and knocking back gin and tonics with us at 11am. We even got him to tap dance on a sheet of plywood. Legend.’ 

Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton tweeted: ‘Good night, Lionel Blair. I was honoured to have met, and worked with him a couple of times. He was divine x.’ 

TV star Christopher Biggins was a friend of Blair and said they often spoke on the phone and that the late presenter had called him two weeks ago. However, Biggins was out at the time and couldn’t take the call.

He told BBC News: ‘He was just the most wonderful, kind, funny, real giver of life. His energy was extraordinary.’ 

Blair was surrounded by his loved ones when he died (Picture: PA)

Biggins said he got to know Blair on the long-running Give Us a Clue, which Blair did opposite Una Stubbs who also died this year.

‘He’s up there now entertaining with Una, I’m sure,’ he said.

The Porridge actor described Blair as ‘very competitive’ and ‘loved to win’, adding: ‘He was just marvellous, a wonderful entertainer who will be sadly missed.’ 

Biggins continued: ‘He could sing, he could dance, he was just like Bruce Forsyth.’ 

He said Blair had a ‘great sense of humour’ and is a ‘tribute to his wonderful family’. Biggins described him as the ‘king of the pantomime’ and a man who was ‘adored’ by the public.

More: Lionel Blair

The actor admitted the news of Blair’s death has come as bit of a surprise, adding that he was ‘looked after beautifully’ by his wife and children. 

Blair is survived by wife Susan, who he married in 1967, and their three children.

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