Ronnie Corbett's funeral to take place in south London next week

Ronnie was made a CBE by the Queen in 2012

(Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

The world of entertainment is set to bid a final farewell to Ronnie Corbett next week when his funeral takes place.

It is expected famous faces will gather alongside other friends and family as the 85-year-old’s life is remembered in a church near his home in south London on Monday.

Ronnie Corbett (Fiona Hanson/PA)

The Two Ronnies star, who has been hailed as a legend of British comedy, died on March 31 with a suspected form of motor neurone disease.

He was one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers and his partnership with Ronnie Barker in the BBC sketch show was one of the most popular entertainment acts of the 1970s and 1980s.

The funeral, which is by invitation only, will take place at St John the Evangelist Church, Shirley, followed by a short service at Croydon Crematorium, family friend Michael Thornton said.

It is expected the comedian’s daughters will pay tribute, and a wake will follow at Addington Golf Club.

John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett filming their famous sketch about class

John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett in the Class sketch (BBC)

Remembering him, Mr Thornton said: “I think he’ll be tremendously missed by his friends, but I actually think he’ll be around in people’s minds and hearts for a long time to come. I hope it will be a fitting send-off.”

At the time of his death Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC, described Corbett as 'quite simply one of the true greats of British comedy'.

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