Barry Chuckle, half of the comedy duo the Chuckle Brothers, has died aged 73.
The entertainer, whose real name was Barry Elliott, starred in ChuckleVision with his brother Paul on the BBC between 1987 and 2009.
Paul said: "I've not just lost my brother, I've lost my theatrical partner of many, many years and my very best friend."
Earlier this year, the brothers returned to the small screen with a new show, Chuckle Time, on Channel 5.
The star had not been well towards the end of the new show's filming.
Summer work was cancelled while Barry rested at his doctor's request, but not long after his health deteriorated.
Manager Phil Dale said: "It is with great sadness that the family announce that Barry passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Ann and all his family.
"The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have been fans of the Chuckle Brothers and they know that they will share in part the great, great loss they feel."
Mr Dale said Barry "leaves 50 years of laughter as his legacy, which is something very special".
The duo had started their careers as The Chuckles on ITV talent shows Opportunity Knocks in 1967.
The Chuckle Brothers
Scottish comedian Brian Limond, known as Limmy, tweeted he once met Barry at a charity event, adding he was "down to earth" and "very funny".
Many viewers who grew up watching ChuckleVision - which ran for 292 episodes - expressed sadness on social media.
"Another piece of our childhood gone", tweeted broadcaster Tony Shepherd, while one woman said: "RIP Barry Chuckle. As a kid I absolutely loved getting in from school and watching #Chucklevision."
Others called him a "staple of my childhood" and "one of my childhood heroes", while some thanked him "for the laughs".
Senior British prosecutor Nazir Afzal said "a part of both mine and my children's childhood passes on" while politicians including Labour's Angela Rayner shared tributes.