Dame Edna star Barry Humphries dies, aged 89

Legendary Australian actor and comedian Barry Humphries, a regular at Newbury Racecourse, has died today, aged 89.

Mr Humphries died following complications with a hip replacement.

And tributes have been pouring in for the comedy legend, the renowned creator of iconic characters such as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.

“I got to work with Barry Humphries on The Hobbit,” recalled Hungerford actor, Adam Brown, on Twitter. “I sat around the dinner table and soaked up his stories whilst pinching myself under the table.

“My comedy hero, right there in front of me! All hail the Goblin King! All hail Dame Edna Everage!”.

“A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift,” read an online tribute by Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.

“Thank you for delighting and inspiring us. Quite simply, you were the greatest,” added English actor and comedian, Matt Lucas.

Mr Humphries died surrounded by his family around 7pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.