Legendary Leeds comic Barry Cryer has OBE has sadly passed away, aged 86.
The Yorkshire writer and comedian, best known for his work wtih Morecambe and Wise, David Frost and The Two Ronnies, had also been a fixture on the panel of BBC Radio 4 show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue since it began in 1972.
The circumstances surrounding his death are currently not known, including the cause.
Throughout his career, he worked with icons like Bruce Forsyth, Bob Hope, Spike Milligan, and the aforementioned Two Ronnies, and wrote a number of episodes for Doctor in the House, the 1969 TV comedy starring Simon Cuff and Barry Evans.
Born in Leeds and educated at the local grammar school, he then went on to continue his studies here - reading English Literature at the University of Leeds.
Having appeared in the University revue, he was then offered a week's work at the Leeds Cities Varieites theatre. At the time, the theatre was the home of iconic show The Good Old Days, which ran for 30 years from 1953 to 1983 - becoming the longest-running TV show of all time.
After learning his first-year results, however, Cryer left Leeds and university life for London -where he began his career at London’s Windmill Theatre after making an impression on Vivian Van Damm.
A short stint as an actor at the theatre ended rather promptly after several hospitalisations, caused by eczema, led to Cryer being released from his contract - at which point he decided to focus his attentions on writing over performing.
He went on to become a regular collaborator with David Frost, writing for The Frost Report from 1966 and 1967, a move that cemented him as a name to watch in the world of writing.
However, despite being a recognised talent, he mostly preferred to write in partnership and collaborated regularly with John Junkin. Together, the pair wrote two Christmas specials for The Morecambe and Wise Show, which aired in 1972 and 1976.
He also acted as a host on the ITV comedy panel show Jokers Wild between 1969 and 1974, and even had a hit song in Finland - with a rendition of Sheb Wooley’s 1958 novelty song Purple People Eater taking the number one spot in the charts the same year.
He married his wife Theresa in 1962 and is survived by four children - one of whom he launched a WW2 podcast called Now, Where Were We? with, shortly prior to his death.
As the news has broken, there has been an outpouring of emotion from friends, family and fans, with famous names including Stephen Fry, Piers Morgan, Jon Holmes and Richard Herring all taking to social media to pay tribute to the great man, his life and his work.
Richard Herring wrote: "Losing Barry Cryer is like losing a member of the family. Utterly gutted that I’ve had my last birthday joke.
"He was one of my absolute comedy heroes and kept working right to the fucking end. A life well lived and a connection to every great comedian of the last 60 years. RIP."
He later tweeted, "He made me laugh so much that I suppose it's only fitting he should finally make me cry."
Stephen Fry said: "Such sad news, one of the absolute greats of British comedy, Barry Cryer, is no more. A glorious, gorgeous, hilarious and gifted writer and performer who straddled all the comic traditions. Universally beloved … farewell, Baz."
Another huge blaze has ripped through the historic Dalton Mills in West Yorkshire, which has played a starring role in major TV shows.
The beautiful old mill in Keighley was set ablaze on Saturday evening, with a huge emergency services response.
Around the time the blaze started, 12 fire engines were called to the scene, and residents nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed.
A number of people who lived in the surrounding area were also evacuated from their homes.
By Sunday morning, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the situation was now 'under control' and thanked the public for their patience.
This is the third fire at Dalton Mills this year alone, devastating the Grade II-listed Victorian building, which was used as a filming location for period dramas Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.
Robbie Moor, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, shared a video of himself at the scene over the weekend and said the scenes at Dalton Mills were 'extremely concerning'.
He praised the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service for their hard work, alongside police and ambulance crews.
He added in a post on X: "Huge thanks to our emergency services for all their efforts and bravery as they continue to tackle the blaze and put out this major fire, and ensure all are safe.
"Thank you also to all who have contacted me this evening. I have visited the scene myself and spoke with the emergency services and neighbouring residents."
In a video statement, he added: "We’ve had another major fire, here in the centre of Keighley, which is deeply infuriating for us all but most importantly those residents that live alongside Dalton Mills, and those businesses.
"This situation just simply cannot continue.
"You know that I’ve been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now, and this is our next major fire."
Inside Moida, the new Korean beauty and skincare store in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
If your skincare routine has been needing an upgrade, there's some good news waiting for you inside Trinity Leeds.
The shopping centre has just welcomed Moida, a brand-new beauty retailer specialising in authentic Korean skincare, bringing some of the world's most sought-after K-beauty products to Leeds.
Named after the Korean word meaning 'to gather' or 'come together', moida is all about making Korean skincare easy to discover and accessible for everyone.
Inside the new store that has taken over the old Claire's Accessories site, shoppers can expect an extensive range of handpicked products from some of the biggest names in K-beauty, including Beauty of Joseon, Dr. Althea, TIRTIR, Medicube, Biodance, and more cult-favourite brands.
The collection has been curated by a team of Korean beauty experts with close links to Korea, meaning customers can expect everything from viral TikTok sensations to exclusive products that are often difficult to get hold of elsewhere in the UK.
Moida K-Beauty has opened in Trinity Leeds. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: "With Korean skincare still increasing in popularity, moida brings an exciting new concept to the centre. Offering guests viral products alongside everyday essentials, plus the chance to browse new brands in-store will be a fantastic experience.
"We know moida is going to be a brilliant addition for both existing fans of K-beauty and those keen to discover it for the first time."
It's the latest announcement following the recent launches of Lane7, Footasylum, LEGO, Jerk Junction, The Fragrance Shop and schuh at Trinity Leeds.
The Hoot -
27th January 2022 
