Jeremy Hardy - RIP

Comedian Jeremy Hardy, a regular on BBC Radio 4 panel shows like The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, has died of cancer aged 57.
His death was confirmed on Friday by his publicist, Amanda Emery.
Hardy made his name on the comedy circuit in the 1980s, winning the prestigious Perrier Award in 1988 and best live act at the ITV Comedy Awards in 1991.
On TV he appeared on shows like QI and sketch programme Now - Something Else.


Hardy often worked his socialist politics into his act
Hardy was also an author and columnist, writing for London's ES Magazine and The Guardian newspaper.

In a statement, Hardy's publicist said he died early on Friday and was with his wife and daughter when he died.
Twitter post by @BBCRadio4: "I think I'm best on the radio, really. I know my place. Me and Finisterre." In 2007, ISIHAC host Jack Dee interviewed Jeremy for Chain Reaction. It's a lovely piece, and a rare look at what made him tick.
"He retained to the end the principles that guided his life; trying to make the world more humane, and to be wonderfully funny," Ms Emery continued.
"He will be enormously missed by so many, who were inspired by him and who laughed with him.
"A fitting memorial will take place, details to be announced soon."
Pointless star Richard Osman was among those to mark his passing, saying Hardy had used comedy "to change the world". In 2016, Hardy appeared on Pointless Celebrities on BBC One.
Twitter post by @richardosman: I was very lucky to work with Jeremy Hardy early in my career. Every day was a masterclass, a privilege. He was so naturally and brilliantly funny, and a man who chose to use his comedy to change the world, rather than to fill stadia. A very sad day. #RIPJeremyImage Copyright @richardosman@RICHARDOSMAN
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BBC Radio 4 also expressed sadness at the loss of "one of the funniest people around".
Twitter post by @BBCRadio4: We are desperately sad to announce that Jeremy Hardy, mainstay of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and The News Quiz, and one of the funniest people around, has died of cancer aged 57. Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved him.  Image Copyright @BBCRadio4@BBCRADIO4
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Others to pay tribute include Julian Clary, fellow comedian Kate Robbins and Victoria Coren Mitchell.
Skip Twitter post by @JulianClary
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End of Twitter post by @JulianClary
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Twitter post by @VictoriaCoren: Jeremy Hardy was so special and brilliant and mischievous, a miracle of a person. I loved him a lot. He was so kind when my father died. My dad admired him enormously. It’s so sad.Image Copyright @VictoriaCoren@VICTORIACOREN
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Born in Farnborough in Hampshire, in 1961, Hardy studied modern history and politics at the University of Southampton before embarking on his stand-up career.
From the outset, he worked his socialist politics into his topical act.
He made his television debut in 1986 in Now - Something Else, an early vehicle for impressionist Rory Bremner. Hardy was a featured writer and also played the role of Jeremy the Trainee.
Hardy also appeared as Corporal Perkins in an episode of the BBC comedy Blackadder Goes Forth in 1989. Seven years later, he presented an episode of Top of the Pops.
Also in 1996, Hardy teamed up with comedian Jack Dee to write Channel 4 sketch show Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives. The pair would later work together again on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.
Hardy became well-known for his comically bad singing on the long-running radio panel game.
Political views
He also fronted Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation, a series of comedy lectures for BBC Radio 4, from 1993.
Episodes were based around subjects as diverse as how to be a father and how to meet the challenge of the 21st Century. The show's 10th series was broadcast in 2014.
And he appeared on BBC Radio 4 with his first wife, American actress and comedian Kit Hollerbach, in the sitcoms Unnatural Acts and At Home with the Hardys. They adopted a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1990.
As a life-long socialist, Hardy's political views were often reflected in his work.
Until 2001, Hardy wrote a column for The Guardian newspaper in which he regularly expressed his support for the Socialist Alliance.
His final column for the paper criticised the news media for its "increasingly humorous tone".
Outspoken comments
His opinions didn't always prove popular with his audience. In 2000, he was booed by members of the Just A Minute audience when he used the subject "parasites" to begin a rant against the royal family.
In 2004, Burnley Council cancelled one of Hardy's performances after saying in an episode of his Speaks to the Nation show that members and supporters of the British National Party (BNP) should be shot.
Jeremy Hardy with Katie Barlow in 2009Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Hardy's second wife was the film-maker Katie Barlow
Hardy was one of a number of names from the world of showbusiness to support the early release of Danny McNamee, who was found guilty of the IRA's 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four members of the Household Cavalry and seven horses. McNamee's conviction was overturned in 1998.
Hardy was also a keen advocate for the rights of Palestinians, travelling to the occupied West Bank in 2002 to film the documentary Jeremy Hardy vs the Israeli Army.

You happy about his death....Lybertyne ?

You have to get out more !

funny brave man,was good pals with linda smith,she too passed v yound

Not my cup of tea I’m afraid,didn’t find his smart arse virtue signalling comedy very funny.but since Victoria’s given him a glowing reference I ll give him the benefit of the doubt.rip.

Too snide for me,his humour never appealed.

STUDYFORM • April 8, 2013 1:05 PM BST on the day of Margaret Thatcher's death.

"She deserves every bit of the lack of any respect many people will offer.

It's a happy day."


STUDYFORM • February 1, 2019 8:39 PM GMT on the day of Jeremy Hardy's death.

I mean, why say anything? It shows no respect, no class and what this forum is.

Jeremy Hardy
RIP

Oh dear. What an unfortunate discovery.

Indeed it is Mac. Just awful for him and his family.

RIP Jeremy.

Always more poignant when someone born in the same year as yourself dies early.
RIP Jeremy
Always very good on ISIHAC
Pity about the political rants on the news quiz.

It took me about five minutes to find. Using the page selector to go back to April 2013 isn't exactly difficult.

Virtue signalling? Hardly. Cancer is a dreadful disease I'd wish on nobody. Awful for sufferers and their families.

really sad news, RIP

Maybe Thatcher is the exception that proves the rule

I think Torquemada, there were VERY MANY posts about Thatcher, not that I feel the need to search through the forum to attempt to see what was written 6 years ago. She was roundly despised by many.
Not that this is the thread for it, but I think it fairly unlikely that Jeremy Hardy was responsible for the misery of millions.

I reckon you think your 'detective work' must entitle you to a free pint at next little get-together of the faithful.

I'm not a hypocrite. My views about Thatcher haven't changed, and the comparison is nonsense.

Maybe when Stalin, Pol Pot, or Hitler died, it would have been hypocritical to say something bad about them too?

Very sad to die so young from that terrible disease
How small life is here , and how big nothingness  RIP

What a hypocrite you are SF.

Er.....I think he was actually.

Accusing others of conflating and distorting facts? More shameless hypocrisy.

Everything I have written on this thread is correct. Everything you wrote subsequently, Studyform, is an embarrassing attempt to direct attention away from your pathetic behaviour. As to criticism about political agendas, you're practically a lost cause, adrift in a sea of your own delusion.

Jeremy Hardy wasn't being compared to a bunch of tyrants, Margaret Thatcher was being compared to a bunch of tyrants.

Studyform's hypocrital criticism of comments on here was exposed when compared to his comments on Thatcher's death. That pretty much sums it up.