Bonnie Langford leads tributes to Lionel Blair

Bonnie Langford has led tributes to the late Lionel Blair.

The 57-year-old actress took to Twitter to share a picture of her dancing with the late British entertainer, after he passed away on Thursday (04.11.21) aged 92.

She wrote: "Dear Lionel. Privileged to have been your dance partner. #Lionelblair xx (sic)"

Several other stars have also paid tribute to Lionel, including TV presenter and journalist Piers Morgan.

He tweeted: "RIP Lionel Blair, 92. A wonderful all-round entertainer & lovely man. Sad news. (sic)"

Comedian and radio DJ Danny Baker described the late star as an "entertainer beyond compare".

He wrote: "I am seeing Lionel Blair has died.

Oh no. A true chum, an entertainer beyond compare, an archive of a golden era, an immeasurable talent.

Impossible to think he won't be in some Green room somewhere, dropping names and living out fantastic tales.

A Giant. Really"

Comedian Ed Byrne tweeted: "One of the highlights of my short lived Saturday morning radio show on BBC London (which I co hosted with my mother) was when we had Lionel Blair as a guest. Smoking fags and knocking back gin and tonics with us at 11am. We even got him to tap dance on a sheet of plywood. Legend"

Comedian Julian Clary wrote: "RIP dear Lionel Blair. A showbiz trooper if ever there was."

Lionel's management company confirmed his passing yesterday.

His agent said in a statement: "He got to a very ripe old age, he was loved by his family, and I think he died in their company, which is lovely."

Lionel had been a prominent figure on British television since the 1970s, and was best known for presenting the quiz show ‘Name That Tune’ in the 1980s, as well as being a team captain on ‘Give Us a Sign’ from 1979 until the early 1990s.

The actor, presenter, and tap dancer also took part in ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2014, and also appeared in the second series of the BBC reality series, ‘The Real Marigold Hotel’.