Eric Sykes, the popular comedy radio, television and film star, has died aged 89.

He started out as a scriptwriter for his former comrade Bill Fraser, who was acting in a comedy at the Playhouse theatre in London. He then moved into comedy writing, putting together scripts for the BBC including the hugely popular iconic comedy The Goon Show alongside Spike Milligan.

He combined a film career alongside his television work, starring with the very best of the era's comic stars including Peter Sellers, Roy Castle, Jimmy Tarbuck and Tony Hancock. His most famous success remains the slapstick comedy The Plank, which also featured performances by Tommy Cooper and The Goodies' Bill Oddie.

After working many times with Hattie Jacques, the two went on to star together in a hit BBC TV sitcom Sykes and A, which was so successful that it launched the pair's partnership, dubbed Eric and the Hat, into comedy history.

Sykes gained dozens of comedy awards over the years, including the Golden Rose of Montreux (now known as the Rose D'or) for The Plank, and a CBE in 2004. He is a true comedy legend who will be greatly missed.

Written and Presented by Ann Salter