Cornish comedian Jethro has died aged 73
It said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of the well-known and popular Cornish comedian Jethro." Jethro, real name Jeffrey Rowe, quit touring in 2020 after more than 50 years of touring.
His family said, "our life will never be the same without him."
Born in St. Brian, Cornwall, Jethro's popularity as a comedian grew in the 1980s, and he made his first national appearance on the Des O'Connors' Show in 1990. In 2001 she appeared on the Royal Variety Show and became one of Cornwall's biggest stars.
Comedian Jim Davidson paid tribute on Twitter, saying, "My best friend Jethro has left us. RIP Jethro, you are sorely missed. Dawn French, who makes Cornwall her home, tweeted, "The noble non-computer Cornishman Jethro (Jeffrey Rowe) has left us. "One of my most helpless laughing moments is in front of him. A very talented comedian. He thinks about everything he loves. Gordon Bay."
His manager, John Miles, said, "He was the funniest and most incredible man, a wonderful man, and I will miss him very much. "It doesn't matter what age or where someone comes from, whether it's a royal person or just a normal person like me - it attracts everyone." Miles added, "He loves to make people laugh - a great thing, and he makes millions laugh."
Speaking to the in 2020, Jethro said that "making people laugh is like medicine to me." "I love seeing old women laugh because they don't go out often... they're beautiful," she added.
He said his first appearance on the Des O'Connors Show "made me national." "When I did that, I was acting in front of a theater audience, so three days later, I don't know what happened overseas.
"Then he got confused." He explained that his decision to retire was partly due to difficulty remembering his jokes: "My memory isn't perfect, and sometimes I walk into a theater full of people and everyone laughs and pauses, and I have nothing on my mind to share. So I'm not a good place."
He promised to keep his upcoming tour dates in 2020, but this was later postponed due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic.