John Bird, British actor and comedian has passed away aged 86

Tributes have begun pouring in for beloved actor and comedian John Bird, whose death was confirmed this morning.

The comedian, who passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, was perhaps best known for his satirical sketches alongside Rory Bremner and John Fortune on Channel 4’s show, Bremner, Bird And Fortune.

Running for 16 series between 1999 and 2008, the show earned several Bafta nominations.

Paying tribute to his former co-star, Rory Bremner wote in a heartfelt statement, "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."

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. 1/4

— Rory Bremner 💙🇺🇦 (@rorybremner) December 28, 2022

Bremner also highlighted the “striking” contrast between his former co-star’s death, with Bird having passed away "nine years, almost to the day" after Fortune who died in 2013 on New Year’s Eve.

Most recently, the 86-year-old had featured in barrister series, Chambers, and BBC Two Series, Absolute Power with Stephen Fry.

The comedian’s film credits include Red and Blue, Cynthia, A Dandy in Aspic, 30 Is a Dangerous Age, Jabberwocky, and Yellow Pages.

Born in Nottingham in 1936, the Yellow Pages actor attended Cambridge where he met his comedy partner John Fortune.

During his time there, he directed comedian Peter Cook and Eleanor Brown in 1959 in Cambridge’s Footlights Revue.

The satirist went on to join the Royal Court Theatre as an assistant director, hosting Beyond The Fringe’s first episode, and amongst his many endeavours, opened the nightclub, Establishment Club with Peter Cook in London and New York.

The actor is survived by his wife, and concert pianist, Libby, and his two step-sons, Dan and Josh.