BRITAIN: Friends and colleagues paid tribute to broadcaster Ned Sherrin yesterday, describing him as a trailblazer who helped transform British radio and television comedy.
Sherrin (76), who died from throat cancer at his London home on Monday, created and produced the landmark 1960s TV satire That Was The Week That Was, known as TW3. In recent years, he was perhaps best known as the witty host of the weekly BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends, a mix of interviews, music and comedy.
BBC director general Mark Thompson described Sherrin as a comedy trailblazer and "one of Britain's best-loved voices".
Born into a farming family in Somerset in 1931, Sherrin read law at Exeter College, Oxford. He soon gave up plans for a career at the Bar to become a TV producer. During 50 years in showbusiness, he worked across the spectrum as an actor, writer, producer, director and presenter.
He was most proud of the weekly TW3, which attracted big ratings - and frequent complaints, with its shocking lack of deference and merciless attacks on the establishment.