It's Barry Cryer's birthday today. The veteran writer/comedian is 86 years old.

Fans have been paying homage to the Leeds-born legend on social media.

Tony De Meur, alias Ronnie Golden, who works regulary with Barry simply said: "Happy 86th Birthday to Barry Cryer!" You can buy their DVD, Live! Actually here.

Mo and Trev asked why he has not had a knighthood yet: "Barry Cryer is without doubt one of this country’s best comedians. Why isn’t he a Sir?"

Gyles Brandreth recalled on of Cryer's gags: "He says he’s so old that these days he doesn’t dare buy a green banana ... Happy birthday, Baz!

Presenter Nick Owen added: "Brilliantly funny, creator of one of my favourite gags, which I’ve often used in after dinner speeches. Yes, it’s ok - he knows!"

Jonathan Mock chipped in: "I have had the great pleasure of seeing Mr Barry Cryer on three occasions two of which were scheduled, one of which was when he gatecrashed a Goodies Q&A in Bristol to heckle Tim."

Ben Mars said: "I met #BarryCryer once and he said 'the worse thing about doing a one man show, is that when you improvise, the only person that laughs is the pianist.'"

Comedian Pippa Evans tweeted: "My one true love. But only cos he lets me win Mornington Crescent. @ISIHAClue"

Musician Neil Brand posted: "The HAPPIEST of birthdays to the great Barry Cryer! National treasure, joke machine, getting a phone call from him is the equivalent of getting an Oscar and a telegram from the Queen. Let's get him trending!!"

Sure enough Cryer has been trending - prompting numerous fans to breathe a huge sigh of relief when they clicked on links and discovered it was his birthday and he handn't died.