Comedy legend Barry Cryer has died. He was 86.

His family issued a statement to say that he died peacefully at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow on Tuesday. 

Tributes have been flooding in from the comedy world for the writer and performer whose career stretched right back from the 1950s to the present day. Only last month he launched a hilarious podcast shooting the breeze about comedy with his son Bob and specil guests including Danny Baker and Stephen Fry, Now, Where Were We?.

The statement said that "Baz" never really liked the term "comedy writer" or "comedian" and preferred the description "hack" or "entertainer" and thought the term "national treasure meant that he'd just been dug up".

Cryer wrote for comedians ranging from Dave Allen, Dick Emery and Morecambe and Wise to Kenny Everett. He also fronted the panel show Joker's Wild and perhaps most famously was a regular on Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue from its launch in 1972. He retained a passion for comedy as it evolved throughout his life.

Gyles Brandreth tweeted:" "RIP #BarryCryer. Here we are only a few weeks ago. Baz was just the loveliest guy: funny & generous. He’d worked with everybody & everybody he worked with liked him. I shall miss his happy company so much - & his regular phone calls: he gave you a gem of a joke with each one."

Stephen Fry wrote: "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."

Writer Si Hawkins wrote:" A mighty oak gone from comedy's back garden. But cheers for all the acorns"

Barry Cryer was born in Leeds in 1935 and was awarded an OBE in 2001.

There will be a private funeral and then a more inclusive service to be announced.

More Barry Cryer tributes to follow,..