Bafta TV Awards 2019 host Graham Norton pays tribute to entertainer Freddie Starr after his death
BAFTA host Graham Norton tonight paid a heartfelt tribute to the late comedian Freddie Starr.
He also remembered the broadcaster Brian Walden - whose death was announced earlier today.
We revealed on Thursday that legendary comic Freddie, 76, had been found dead by his carer in Spain.
The Merseyside-born performer - whose hamster-eating antics led to The Sun's most famous headline - suffered a fatal heart attack alone in his Costa del Sol home.
Starr is due to be repatriated to the UK this week after a kind-hearted funeral director offered to fly his body home and lay on a ceremony for free.
Doubling-up his tribute, Graham also mentioned the death of former interviewer and Labour MP Mr Walden - who died after a battle with emphysema aged 86 at home in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
Speaking to the star-studded audience and millions of viewers at home, Bafta host Graham said: "Sadly, we've just heard that the broadcaster Brian Walden has passed away.
"And we also remember Freddie Starr, who died on Thursday."
His comments were met with mournful applause from the audience before an emotional montage showed the stars we've lost this year.
But notable absences from the remembrance video were the late Barry Chuckle and Love Island star Mike Thalassitis - sparking outrage among some viewers.
The tribute came as The Sun revealed Starr's beloved kitten 'Little Freddie' faces becoming a feral street cat - as it could be turfed out of the late comic's home.
The ginger blue eyed tabby was the funnyman's favourite feline and was cuddling him just hours before his death last week.
But now the three week old kitten faces a tough life as a stray on the streets of Mijas on the Costa Del Sol.
His late companion Nelly Georgieva, 47, said how she fears she will lose her home which has a charge on it after Freddie lost a high court libel battle.
Nelly said: "I have no money, no money for the funeral, and I soon will have no home.
"I want to stay here. I am happy here. The cats are happy here."
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