COMEDY legend Duncan Norvelle died at the age of 66.
Tributes poured in for the star who rose to fame in the 1980s with his catchphrase “Chase me!”
8
Duncan Norvelle at the London Palladium Credit: Rex
8
Norvelle reads The Sun at homeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
8
The comedian suffered a stroke in 2012
8
A heartfelt tribute has arrived to popular TV personality Credits: Rex
His partner Linda Trevallion confirmed that he died at 8.15 this morning.
She told The Sun that he died of a chest infection and sepsis but was in no pain.
“He’s calm and made millions of people laugh in his lifetime. I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about him,” she said.
The couple were together for 12 years and Linda said he was “not really into showbiz, he wasn’t into going to showbiz parties”.
She added that Norvelle was always “very nice” to his fans.
And despite never officially getting married, Linda said: “We were together as husband and wife.”
Norvelle has been living with the effects of a stroke he suffered in 2012 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body.
He met Linda only after that through a mutual friend.
She went on to say, “I fell in love with that man, the stroke made no difference. I helped him, but he could do a lot for himself.”
Linda, as well as Norvelle’s son Jack (15) and daughter Yasmine (35) were with him when he died.
However, second daughter Sophie, 44, was unable to return from Spain in time.
Linda added: “I never want anyone to suffer. I just want to still hold him and love him a little more. It’s never enough. I knew it was coming but you’re never ready.”
STAR
Norvelle was born on April 2, 1958, near Loughborough in the East Midlands, and pursued a career as an entertainer after winning £20 in a talent show while on holiday in Bournemouth as a teenager.
The comedian shot to fame on ITV’s Saturday Royal variety show in the early 1980s.
He then hosted the pilot episode of what would become Blind Date and appeared regularly on shows like Surprise! Surprise! and The Bob Monkhouse Show.
In 2011, he appeared on Celebrity Come Dine With Me with Sean Hughes, Gina Yashere and Paul Tonkinson.
Fellow comedian Steve Royle wrote on social media: “A comedy legend and a wonderful man. So lucky to have known and worked with him. Thanks for the memories my friend. RIP and may St. Peter chase you!”
Comedian Danny Posthill wrote: “So sad to hear of the passing of Duncan Norvelle, a very funny man with incredible charisma and a lovely guy to finish. RIP Sir.”
Journalist Garry Bushell added: “We are sorry to hear that we have lost the lovely comedian Duncan Norvelle. The angels are now pursuing him.”
Jess Conrad OBE said: “So sorry to hear @DuncanChaseMe has passed away. He was a fixture in showbiz for years with his famous ‘chase me!'” catchphrase.
“He’s gone too young, we’ll miss him dearly.”
Linda went on to say that Norvelle was a real family man.
She told The Sun: “He loved coming home after his shows… he always wanted to come home and sing to Yasmine when she was a baby in the cot. He’d say ‘everything I do is a bug for you'”.
She said that after Norvelle’s stroke, he was determined to “prove everybody wrong” and get back on stage – which he did.
His first appearance was a fundraiser for slain soldier Lee Rigby.
“He did this play for his son, and Duncan was paralyzed on his left side, but he still managed to go on and storm the place,” said Linda.
“He changed his catchphrase from ‘chase me’ to ‘push me.’
– His adrenaline rose and after that I took bookings for him all the time.
He continued to raise money at further exhibitions for the Stroke Association and became an ambassador.
RECOVERY FROM STROKE
Before the stroke, he complained of a “terrible headache” and went to bed early.
But when he got up, he collapsed on the floor. When he woke up, he moved the left side of his body and knew what had happened.
Norvelle was placed in an induced coma and was in the hospital for a total of nine weeks.
Doctors told him he might never walk again.
He previously said: “I felt this shaking all over my body and it seemed to go on forever.
“I saw many stroke patients who gave up and didn’t question what the doctors were telling them, but I was determined to get better and live my life,” he added.
After being in the hospital, the TV star suffered a second stroke.
Experts at the Stroke Association found that one in eight patients die within the first 30 days of having a stroke.
Of those who survive, one in three will be left with serious cognitive disabilities such as memory loss or language difficulties.
But Norvelle miraculously made a full recovery, including regaining clear speech and relying only on a cane for walking support.
He campaigned to raise awareness after medical episodes.
“I would urge people to check their blood pressure regularly and seek help immediately if they experience sudden weakness in the face or hands or slurred speech as these are all symptoms of a stroke,” he warned.
“It’s a killer and I consider myself one of the lucky ones.”
When Linda visited him in the hospital early in his recovery, she was told he had had a heart attack.
“When I saw him I was shocked. His face fell and he couldn’t lift his head from the pillow. I didn’t know how serious a stroke could be,” she said.
Norvelle’s manager said: “Duncan was a British comedy icon. Way ahead of his time with comedy.
“He absolutely loved show business and brought so much happiness to so many.
“Even after his stroke, he was still bringing in racing money for others.
“It was a pleasure to manage Duncan for several years in which we reissued his album Music from My Life.
“As well as working together, Duncan became good friends with myself, Paul Shed and Gary Goodmaze from Celebtime.
“We are deeply sorry to hear this sad news.”
8
Duncan and Roger De Courcey with Nookie Bear at the 1993 Hall of Fame Credit: Rex
8
Duncan suffered a stroke in 2012. Credit: Rex
8
A friend of the comedian revealed that he had been struggling with his health in SeptemberCredit: Facebook
8
The TV star was known as Duncan ‘Chase me’ Norvelle after he coined his catchphrase ‘Chase me!’Credit: Rex
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education