The Comedians star loses cancer fight

George Roper, one of the original stars of the Seventies show The Comedians, has died at the age of 69.

The Liverpool-born comic had been fighting cancer for the last five years, but lost the battle at his Cheshire home yesterday.

Roper was one of the first comics to appear on The Comedians, after spending nearly a decade touring the clubs with his act - much of which was about workmen in wellies.

Johnny Hamp, creator of The Comedians, led the tributes, saying: "He was a born telly comic and one of the nicest people I have ever met.

"When I had the idea for The Comedians, he was one of the first people I called. It wasn't necessarily the gags he told, it was the face. There was always a twinkle in the eye."

Bernard Manning told the Manchester Evening News: "George was a natural comic who did not need to try to be funny. All he needed was a microphone and a spotlight."

Jim Bowen added: "He was a funny, funny man - and a real gentle man."

He is survived by his wife and three children, and his funeral will take place in St Mary's Church, Sandbach, at 1pm on July 10.

Published: 2 Jul 2003