Des O' Connor presents the ITV entertainment show Des O' Connor Tonight

Des O’Connor Dies, Aged 88

Des O’Connor Dies, Aged 88

comedian, singer and TV host Des O’Connor has died aged 88.  He died on Saturday after a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire just over a week ago.

He was known for hosting his own chat show, as well as Take Your Pick and Countdown – and for his friendship with Morecambe and Wise.

 

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In a statement his agent said he was “well loved by absolutely everybody” and “loved life”.

His long-time agent and family friend Pat Lake-Smith described him as the “ultimate entertainer” and said he had been recovering from the fall before his condition had suddenly deteriorated.

She said: “He was a joy to work with – he was talented, fun, positive, enthusiastic, kind and a total professional. He loved life, and considered enthusiasm almost as important as oxygen.”

London-born Des O’Connor presented his own prime-time TV shows for more than 45 years but also had success as a singer.

His friendship with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise saw him mocked for his singing ability in sketches despite a successful career which included four Top 10 hits and more than 30 albums.

O’Connor appeared on stages around the world including hundreds of shows at the London Palladium.

His fame soared when he was hired to host The Des O’Connor Show, which ran on ITV from 1963 to 1971.

In 1977 he began hosting Des O’Connor Tonight, which started on BBC Two before moving to ITV, where it stayed until it ended in 2002.

He later hosted the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown alongside Carol Vorderman, with the pair bowing out together in 2008, and was made a CBE for his services to entertainment and broadcasting in that year’s birthday honours.

 

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Des married four times, and has described the end of his first three relationships as casualties of his obsession with work.

In 2007, he married long-term girlfriend Jodie Brooke Wilson, who was 37 years his junior and gave birth to their son Adam when O’Connor was 72.

O’Connor also had four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina from his previous marriages.

source, full story and obituary BBC News