'Heaven is a funnier place' Nick Ferrari pays tribute to comedy legend Barry Cryer

28 January 2022, 08:17

Nick Ferrari paid moving tribute to comedy legend Barry Cryer
Nick Ferrari paid moving tribute to comedy legend Barry Cryer. Picture: Alamy

By Megan Hinton

LBC presenter Nick Ferrari has paid a moving tribute to comedy legend Barry Cryer who died yesterday, aged 86.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking about the British comedy icon Breakfast, Nick said: "Sadly a day I had always feared would always dawn.

"I had the pleasure, I only met him on a couple of occasions, but what a top bloke and laughing to the very end and sharing a joke unfortunately I can’t share on the radio. I say farewell Barry Cryer.

His family announced yesterday he died on Tuesday "peacefully, in good spirits and with his family around him".

Adding "heaven became a funnier place" after his passing.

The writer and performer appeared on stage, screen and radio and penned jokes for countless household names during a seven-decade career.

He wrote for legends of British comedy, including Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Sir Billy Connelly and Tommy Cooper and in 2018, he was handed a lifetime achievement award for his comedy career by the British Music Hall Society.

Nick Ferrari's moving tribute to Barry Cryer

Read more: Tributes pour in for comedy legend Barry Cryer who dies aged 86

Read more: US paratroops on standby and UK brace for Russian cyber attacks as Ukraine tensions rise

Speaking to Nick at Breakfast, fellow comedian Omid Djalili shared his memories of Mr Cryer branding him as the "the Jehovah of jokes" and "a mountain of mirth".

He said: "When people grow it is not about survival of the fittest, it is about survival of those who can adapt, he was able to adapt and you know coming from 50 years ago he was writing for pretty much the main stream and then he was writing for Kenny Everett and then he was writing for the alternative comedians.

"He was just somebody who loved comedy. For him funny was funny. It didn’t matter what your political persuasion was or what ever background you came from, for him funny was funny.

"And I think what kept him relevant was his love for comedy and refusal to discuss why something was funny. He never liked to dissect it and that was the most important thing that he had.

Recalling found memories of his friend, he added: "If he knew you and had your number he would ring you up on your birthday and it used to feel so good, he goes ‘Baz Cryer here happy birthday’ and we’d chat for a couple of minutes.

"I found someone who could to a great Barry Cryer impression and I said lets call him up on his birthday. And he went ‘Baz Cryer here just wanted to wish you a happy birthday’ and [Barry] said ‘who’s this?’.

"And [the impersonator] went ‘it is Baz Cryer I wanted to wish you a happy birthday’ and [Barry] went ‘thank god for that I thought he had forgotten my birthday’. "

Read more: Kate replaces Harry: Duchess takes key role as England rugby patron

Read more: 'Harry Potter and the trigger warning': Pupils told book causes 'difficult conversations'

Omid Djalili's tribute to comedian Barry Cryer

A family statement said yesterday: "Dad was a talented comedy writer and comedian in a particularly golden vintage. Incidentally he never really liked the terms 'comedy writer' or 'comedian' instead preferring hack and entertainer, and always thought the term 'national treasure' meant he'd just been dug up. He was, in his words, arrogant in his humility.

"He had a gift for friendship (as anyone who still has a landline will testify) and a genius for putting people at their ease. Oh yes, and he made many people laugh. A lot. Over many years.

"The statement added: "It'll be of no surprise to those that knew and worked with him that he was telling an Archbishop of Canterbury joke to a nurse not long before he died.

"That was one of his gifts, making strangers feel welcome. Making them laugh.

"He leaves behind him a life of fun, joy, love and silliness and we'll all be doing our best to maintain that legacy."

He regularly told fantastic stories and anecdotes about others - the many brilliant and fascinating people he'd worked with and knew - but as he was loved and admired by to many - why don't we start telling some stories about Baz and his brilliant and mischievous life and career?

"And to end, as Dad would say, 'Same time tomorrow?"

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s prison escape?

Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s dramatic prison escape?

Exclusive
Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari - the last remaining British citizen being held hostage in Gaza - has pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to help bring her daughter home as she looked back on the harrowing events of October 7.

'It nearly broke my heart': Mother of British hostage Emily Damari blasts Downing Street over vetoed Gaza deal

Exclusive
Jane Rubens, 73, from Edinburgh was hit by a large vehicle in early November and remains in a coma.

Insurance firm gave Brit 'less than 24 hours' to make a decision against doctors’ advice after mum suffered brain injury

Exclusive
LBC’s Nick Ferrari has remembered being spiked while at a party.

‘The whole world was spinning’: Nick Ferrari candidly recalls drink spiking as he shares 'appalling' side-effects

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector

Nick Ferrari.

'He'll look over his shoulder for the rest of his life': Concern for Martyn Blake's privacy long overdue