Paul Chuckle wiped away tears as he carried his late brother Barry’s coffin at his funeral on Friday (17.08.18).
A wreath in the hearse from Paul and his wife Sue, spelling out the word "BRO", was accompanied by a simple note which read: "Miss you Baz. Love Paul and Sue xx."
The funeral for Barry took place at the New York Stadium in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, two weeks after he died at the age of 73 following a battle with cancer.
‘Crackerjack’ star Don Maclean, Maureen and Linda Nolan, former ‘EastEnders’ actor John Altman, Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown, ‘Gogglebox’ siblings Pete and Sophie Sandiford, entertainer Bernie Clifton and ‘Allo ‘Allo!’ actress Vicki Michelle were among at the mourners at the funeral.
Vicki shared her favourite memory of the star, from when they worked together in panto, telling the BBC: "He was dancing in a Chuckle sandwich with a girl either side of him. It’s going to be sad today. My heart goes out to his family, his brother Paul in particular and his children."
Comedian Billy Pearce said: "I think Barry would be honoured and elated to see that so many people loved him so much. I think that’s the main thing and we will all miss him."
Children’s TV presenter Maclean told the Daily Mirror: "Barry on stage was very funny but off stage he was quite a quiet man with a great depth of thought. He was a man of great intellect.
"I don’t think today can be a sombre affair. People will be very sad, It’s a terrible thing to think that he had gone, but I think there must be laughter. His life was about making people laugh, right across the generations."
Barry’s manager Phil Dale announced his client’s death on Sunday August 5.
He said: "It is with great sadness that the family announce that Barry passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Ann and all his family.
"The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have been fans of the Chuckle Brothers and they know that they will share in part the great, great loss they feel."
Paul and Barry – who worked together as double act The Chuckle Brothers but whose real surname is Elliott – recently filmed a new series called ‘Chuckle Time with the Chuckle Brothers’ for Channel 5 and the station aired a special episode in honour of Barry shortly after the news of his death broke.
Speaking after the death of his brother, Paul paid a heartfelt tribute to his sibling in a statement.
He said: "I’ve not just lost my brother, I’ve lost my theatrical partner of many, many years and my very best friend."
He later added on Twitter: "I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone for all your messages they’ve been hard to read but I read every one.Its the worst feeling ever but I have to carry on as I know Barry would want me to having always been so supportive of each other in both work and our personal lives (sic)."
Paul Chuckle’s tears at brother Barry’s funeral
