Comedian Eddie Large dies alone in hospital after contracting coronavirus

• Video report by ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar

Comedian Eddie Large has died at the age of 78 after contracting coronavirus, his family has announced.

He died alone, with his family unable to be with him at Bristol's Southmead Hospital.

Eddie became a household name, alongside his great friend Syd Little, after the pair won the ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1971.

As Little and Large the comic duo had primetime shows on both ITV and then the BBC.

Eddie, who lived in Portishead near Bristol, retired in 2003 after undergoing a heart transplant.

His family say he contracted coronavirus while receiving treatment in Southmead for a heart condition.

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His agent Peter Mansfield confirmed his death and said his family were only able to speak to him on the phone.

He added: “He was at Southmead Hospital, and the Papworth Hospital - which did his heart transplant 17 years ago - were in constant communication and a great help as well.

“The family wanted to say how grateful they are for the extra 17 years that they have had with Eddie. And a huge thank you to the donor and the donor’s family.”

Fellow comics, including Lenny Henry, Tommy Cannon and Jimmy Cricket, were among those paying tribute to Eddie on Twitter.