ITV presenting duo Ant and Dec and comedian Jack Dee have paid tribute to the sketch writer Eddie Braben who died this morning after a short illness:
R.I.P Eddie Braben. And thank you. X
From @antanddec on Twitter:What a great and lasting contribution Eddie Braben made to British comedy.
From @TheRealJackDee on Twitter:Eddie Braben, the man credited with the success of Morecambe and Wise, has died this morning.
One of the duo's most famous sketches featured newsreader Angela Rippon dancing with Ernie and Eric on a Christmas special in 1976, which was watched by 27 million viewers.
Comedian Miranda Hart has tweeted her tribute to Morecambe and Wise sketch writer Eddie Braben who died this morning at the age of 82:
Feel so privileged to have met Eddie Braben. One of our greatest comedy writers who brought joy to millions. Thank you Eddie.
From @mermhart on Twitter:Sir Bruce Forsyth, who worked with Eddie Braben on Play Your Cards Right, has paid tribute to the "fantastic" sketch writer saying he will be "sorely missed":
– Sir Bruce ForsythThis is sad news, it really is. He was a fantastic writer.
What he did for Eric (Morecambe) and Ernie (Wise) was incredible.
He was the third man of the comedy.
I wish I could have been doing the kind of shows he had written.
His jokes and style of writing will be sorely missed in the business.
The comedian and author David Baddiel has paid tribute to Eddie Braben, including a reference to the famous Morecambe and Wise sketch he wrote involving the conductor Andre Previn:
Eddie Braben: a man who, comically, played all the right notes, in the right order, all the time. RIP: and many thanks.
From @Baddiel on Twitter:Eddie Braben, who was known as the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, has died.
He helped write and produce Eric and Ernie's sketches, including the famous one starring the conductor Andre Previn from their 1971 Christmas show.
The comedy writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, died this morning at the age of 82 after a short illness, his manager Norma Farnes said today.
The man behind the music on old television shows like Morecambe and Wise - jazz trumpeter Kenny Ball, has died at the age of 82.
With his puffed out cheeks and rasping voice he and his Jazzmen had a string of hits in the sixties and seventies.
Nina Nannar looks back on the highnotes: