‘Keith was an inspiration and Blackpool legend’

Keith died yesterday, aged 67, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, after battling an aggressive form of spleen cancer since 2013.

Tragically, less than six months ago, Keith was given the all-clear by doctors to return to the stage after chemotherapy and stem cell treatment.

The father-of-three, and grandfather-of-two, enjoyed a career that saw him break box office records in Blackpool, sell out shows in resorts nationwide and record a hit record which sold 400,000 copies.

Today famous names from stage and screen paid tribute to the star who entertained children for four decades.

Syd Little, of Little and Large, said: “Keith’s going to be sadly missed. Showbusiness was his life.”

Comedian Stan Boardman said: “I remember a time when I did a show with him in Blackpool and we had to fly to Torquay.

“Keith was there with Orville and there were two other comedians – one with a horse and another with an ostrich – I remember thinking if we crashed we’d look like we’d crashed into a safari park.

“He was a great man and was showbiz all the time.”

Pal and stand-up comic Mick Miller added: “His death came as a shock to me, even though Keith has been ill for some time now.

“He has fought his cancer with courage and dignity.”

Among those paying tribute to Keith was Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, who said: “Very sad to hear that Keith Harris has died after a battle with cancer. Brought joy to my childhood”

Singer and broadcaster Aled Jones added: “Sad to hear of the death of Keith Harris – sending best wishes to his family and friends.”

Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne wrote: “So sorry to hear about the death of Keith Harris, a great entertainer who has died so very young. Fly up into the sky Keith. RIP.”

Louis Theroux, who interviewed the entertainer for a 2002 documentary, wrote on Twitter: “RIP ventriloquist Keith Harris. Lovely man. My thoughts are with his family.’

Keith Chegwin said: “So sad. A great entertainer and all round nice man Keith Harris has passed away. Best wishes to his family at this sad time.”

Pal and fellow performer Joe Longthorne said: “Keith was a true legend.”

Keith honed his act as a young teenager, inspired by his late ventriloquist father, Norman, before taking the show out to holiday resorts and onto BBC programme Let’s Laugh at just 17-years-old.

He quickly became one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers as he appeared on TV throughout the 70s and 80s with his luminous green duck sidekick, Orville.

The Keith Harris show ran from 1982 to 1990, featuring both Orville and Cuddles, the monkey.

At the height of their fame Keith and Orville performed private shows for Princess Diana and Prince William and Prince Harry.

He had grown up in Hampshire and Chester but Poulton became his adopted hometown, with his former fashion model wife Sarah and two youngest children, 15-year-old Kitty and Shenton, 13.

He also invested in Club l’Orange, on Vicarage Road (now Uber), the name a tribute to the green duck who brought him success.

In the 90s he brought his show to the Sandcastle Showbar, earning the venue its most successful seasons, according to bosses.

John Child, managing director of the Sandcastle, said the joy of Mr Harris’s shows were how he could translate them to suit any audience.

He said: “Keith was a great entertainer and families loved him – it was an hilarious show.

“He was very polished in what he did so it was the most successful show we ever had in the Showbar.

“His death has come as a shock, he was larger than life.”

The world learned of Keith’s illness when he collapsed on stage in Great Yarmouth in 2013.

He had been diagnosed with spleen cancer earlier that year, having realised his symptoms, of sweating and stomach pains, was more than just the stresses of life on the road performing.

His spleen was removed in a five-hour operation before undergoing months of chemotherapy to prevent the cancer returning.

Keith told The Gazette last year that returning to the stage after being given the all-clear was as great an achievement as his many box-office and TV show successes.

Keith even shaved Orville’s head to match his own when he lost his own trademark curly locks during chemotherapy.

Friends said his resilience and good humour during the illness was an inspiration.

Joe Longthorne said Keith’s battle with cancer helped him through his own fight with throat cancer.

He said: “Keith was a true legend of Blackpool.

“Going through cancer myself, I know how brave he was and I was really proud of the way he fought it. It takes a brave man to do that.

“He was an inspiration to me in my own battle.”

During his recovery. Keith never gave up on his belief that performing was “the best medicine”.

In December Keith played a series of comeback shows at Sands venue in Blackpool. But he took ill again in January.

Friends and family have told of spending happy, poignant last days with Keith in recent weeks, but that in spite of a devastating diagnosis from doctors, they remained optimistic.

Jacqui Scott, a former wife of Keith and mother of his eldest child, Skye, 27, said: “We saw him last week and it was wonderful, we went for dinner and reminisced.

“He still had a great faith and Sarah, his wife, had hope. Miracles do happen and you mustn’t ever give up, you must fight and he did, no-one fought cancer longer and harder.

“He was too young to die. We’ve lost a great talent, a real professional and a great man.

“I will remember Keith with great fondness.”

Keith and Ms Scott were married for eight years from 1983, having met at a summer show in Scarborough in 1981.

Her brother Cameron Scott, a long time friend, said: “I had a lot of laughs with Keith over the years, always full of life with bags of energy.

“He was a true pro and a consummate performer who will be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of watching him perform.

“He was certainly very much a family man.

“Sarah, his wife and wonderful mother to their two lovely children, really cemented their family unit.

“It is a great loss to showbusiness.”

In his last interview with the Gazette, in December, Keith looked forward to having a “few good years left making people laugh”.

At the time he was desperate to return to his first love, performing before a live audience.

He said: “Me and Orville have been together for nearly 43 years.

“I would like to think we have a good few years left making people laugh