Jeremy Hardy

Given the balance of opinions on this thread I think the level of tributes to a good man with a conscience seems entirely appropriate.

I read a letter in the Guardian from the British Shalom-Salaam Trust, who are fundraising, hoping to plant an olive grove in Jeremy Hardy's memory to replace Palestinian olive trees regularly uprooted by Israeli army and settlers. He apparently did gigs in support of Jewish anti-occupation groups, and was thought of as "an honorary Jew". I think it's a great idea.

The tributes on the news quiz in total were 5 minutes long, so i’m not sure 5 minutes counts as overdone!!

I hope when I die someone can come up with 5 minutes of good things to say about me.

Jeremy Hardy was an integral part of that program for over 20 years of course they were going to play clips of his well known bits from the program.

Many of the regular panellists were great friends of Jeremy Hardy, the tributes were touching and endearing. Regardless of the political divide on which people sit.

I do not begrudge the tributes to Jeremy Hardy, who was popular and well liked I simply said that I thought, after him getting a well deserved tribute on the news and another at the beginning of another programme he was occasionally on, I thought it OTT to then give us extensive examples of his wit and humour at the end of the programme as well.

I made no comment on his political views, I am not sure they would be that different to mine. Not liking stand-up is no more a prejudice than not liking opera.

Read my words not what your imagination thinks I was really thinking and stop making so much of a mild comment that I thought some of the tributes were overdone.

I liked him and I liked his politics. I heard Miles Jupp's tribute to him before the News Quiz and thought it was lovely.

I thought it was sad to hear about Clive Swift too but he was a good deal older and, as far as I am aware, has not been on air for some time.

Imagine begrudging tributes made to a colleague who died at 57, of a hideous illness he’d kept quiet about.

Yes I agree eazybee. As Monica has declared her prejudice which informs her views about Jeremy Hardy, I will declare mine. I like standups (some), and I liked that he was a committed socialist like me, and that this showed in his humour, and he was witty but not abrasive. I don't think the BBC overdid the tributes to him, as he appeared on so many programmes, and I believe many people feel as I do and will miss him a lot. Others of a different political persuasion may not have appreciated him as much.......

Indeed eazybee

People, including me, were shocked by the unexpected death of Jeremy Hardy aged fifty-seven, partly because no-one other than immediate family knew he was ill. A very dignified way to behave.
Clive Swift died aged eighty-two; if he had died in the middle of Keeping up Appearances, I expect there would have been a similar reaction.

Did it harm you in any way or just annoy you that a comedian whose political opinions you did not agree with was obviously very highly thought of by more than just his political allies. Socialist humanitarians can be really nice people!

I just consider R4 went into overdrive. I rarely listened to him and, I know I am in a minority, I didn't find him particularly funny when I did, but I happen not to like stand-up comedy and never have.

And that is precisely the point Clive Swift had a good obit in the paper. Jeremy Hardy a good and clearly well deserved obit on the radio. A brief tribute at the start of a program he had been on, which is what usually happens would have been fine but instead we had an extended tribute at the start of the programme concerned and even more at the end. Yes, he was a popular comedian, but one of a dozen or so who are equally well thought of. I just thought it overdone. Are we to have this every time a successful radio performer pops his/her clogs.

I think actually M0nica that reflects the fact that he was that wonderful type of person who is very respected and liked by a wide range of people.. even those who opposed the political perspective held.

Clive Swift had a good obit in the paper I read. I had not realised he was once married to Margared Drabble.

It is always a sadness when someone dies prematurely and when a performer as well known as Jeremy Hardy dies it is news and for those who have worked with him to pay tribute in the BBC News, but I do not think his death warranted umpteen tributes at the beginning and end of programs he had appeared on on occasion, which is what happened yesterday.

Clive Swift also died yesterday. Known above anything as Hyacinth Bucket's husband and a well regarded actor in other series, including Bishop Proudie in Barchester Towers with Alan Rickman. He got barely a mention.

Very sad. As others have said a very clever and funny man.

Lovely to hear such genuine tributes to him, especially at the end of Any Questions. A sad loss of a kind, clever, original man.

A very clever, funny man. I shall miss him.

I loved him and was shocked to hear of his death at only 57. He was witty and political, in a nice way, and always enlivened any shows he was on. I shall miss him.

He was always so modest but his bitingly clever wit promoted social justice firmly and clearly. He did so many benefit gigs ..he fronted regular shows that raised funds for ovarian cancer in tribute to fellow comedian Linda Smith, who also died too young. A good man.

I liked him. He was witty and clever. Always a bonus if he was on a panel show. RIP.

What everyone else has said.

So sad to lose such great character.

Very funny and very clever - such a loss..

He was very funny. Much too young to go

I was sorry to read about the death of Jeremy Hardy, he was certainly very funny at times, my husband mentioned to me he was listening to him on the radio quite recently. 57 is no great age these days, I'm always sad to hear about an untimely death and for the nearest dearest left behind

Sad to have such a talent die at what now seems to be a young age.
He was very entertaining, we owe him a debt