Jeremy Hardy death: Comedian and BBC Radio 4 ‘News Quiz’ regular dies of cancer, aged 57

Hardy was a regular on BBC Radio 4 panel shows, including ‘The News Quiz’ and ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue’

Comedian Jeremy Hardy has died of cancer, aged 57.

He gained recognition on the comedy circuit in the 1980s and was a regular on BBC Radio 4 panel shows, including The News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.

Hardy also appeared on televised quiz shows, such as QI and Mock the Week, and appeared as Corporal Perkins in sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth.

As well as acting, he was also a columnist who wrote for The Guardian and the London Evening Standard’s ES Magazine and, in 1996, presented an episode of Top of the Pops.

Hardy was born in Farnborough, Hampshire, in 1961 and studied modern history and politics at the University of Southampton before he began his career in comedy, where he became well known for his sketches on socialism.

In 1988, he won the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 1996, he collaborated with Jack Dee for Channel 4 sketch show Jack and Jeremy’s Real Lives.  

Hardy often courted controversy. In 2004, his performance was cancelled by Burnley Council after he said that members of the British National Party (BNP) should be shot in an episode of BBC Radio 4’s Speaks to the Nation.

The comedian was a close friend of Jeremy Corbyn and, in September 2016, performed at the Keep Corbyn rally in Brighton in support of his Labour Party leadership campaign.

Tributes have poured in following the news of Hardy’s death. Pointless’s Richard Osman tweeted: “I was very lucky to work with Jeremy Hardy early in my career. Every day was a masterclass, a privilege.”

Jack Dee called him “ground-breakingly brilliant, off the register funny, compassionate and caring.” Dee added he was “so privileged to have counted him as a dear friend”.

Comedian Angela Barnes thanked him “for the laughs”, writing: “Utterly heartbroken to have to say goodbye to Jeremy Hardy. He was so very kind and supportive of me, I’ve had so many laughs sat next to him on the News Quiz and even more in the pub afterwards. So much love and strength to his family.”  

He is survived by his partner, the photographer and filmmaker Katie Barlow and daughter Elizabeth Hardy, whom he adopted when he was married to comedian Kit Hollerbach.