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Jewish entertainer Des O’Connor has died at 88
Comedian joked in 2001 he'd inherited the 'chutzpah of the Jews and the blarney of the Irish'
November 15, 2020 12:10
Comedian joked in 2001 he'd inherited the 'chutzpah of the Jews and the blarney of the Irish'
November 15, 2020 12:10Jewish comedian, singer and TV host Des O’Connor has died at 88.
His agent confirmed the death in a statement to the Jewish Chronicle.
The entertainer, born in East London in 1932 to a Jewish mother and Irish father, joked in his 2001 memoir Bananas Can't Fly that he'd inherited "the chutzpah of the Jews and the blarney of the Irish".
Neither of his parents' respective families were "pleased by the match", he wrote, and he often joked that he was the only O’Connor to be barmitzvahed.
Mr O’Connor's agent, Pat Lake-Smith, paid tribute to the "ultimate entertainer" who was "talented, fun, positive, enthusiastic, kind and a total professional."
"He loved life, and considered enthusiasm almost as important as oxygen. He adored his family - they were everything to him," she added.
He launched his career in 1963 with The Des O'Connor show and went on to front primetime programmes for more than 45 years.
Career highlights included interviewing the likes of Robbie Williams, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford and Sean Connery.
He hosted staples of British television such as Des O'Connor Tonight, Channel 4’s game-show Countdown and Today With Des and Mel with his co-host Melanie Syke.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Ms Syke, who worked with him until 2006, said her former co-host will be “forever missed.”
“He had talent in every fibre of his being and was stubborn as a mule. He was the full ticket as a friend and colleague.
“When he chose me to be his co-host on the Today daytime show it was one the greatest days of my professional life. It was an education and a privilege to work with him for the years that followed,” she said.
Mr O’Connor, whose singing career saw him sell 16 million records, recorded hits such as Careless Hands and No one but You.
He was awarded a CBE by the Queen in 2008 for his services to entertainment and broadcasting.
He is survived by his wife Jodie, their son Adam and his four daughters, Karin, TJ, Samantha and Kristina.
