'Goodbye from me to you': Stars and fans line Rotherham streets for Barry Chuckle's funeral

Laura Hannam
·Reporter

TV stars and comedy fans united in mourning on Friday to say goodbye to Chuckle Brother Barry Elliott – as his brother Paul tearfully carried his brother’s coffin.

Barry, 73, one half of the much-loved Chuckle Brothers, passed away earlier this month after a secret battle with bone cancer.

Fans lined the streets in the pair’s hometown of Rotherham for Barry’s funeral, with many wearing Rotherham United shirts before the sombre service outside the club’s New York Stadium.

Paul Elliott (right) carries the coffin of his brother Barry Chuckle, 73, (real name Barry Elliott) at the New York Stadium, Rotherham.
Paul Elliott (right) carries the coffin of his brother Barry Chuckle, 73, (real name Barry Elliott) at the New York Stadium, Rotherham.
The cortege carrying the coffin of Barry Chuckle, 73, (real name Barry Elliott) arrives at the New York Stadium, Rotherham, for his funeral following his death on Sunday August 5.
The cortege carrying the coffin of Barry Chuckle, 73, (real name Barry Elliott) arrives at the New York Stadium, Rotherham, for his funeral following his death on Sunday August 5.

Famous famous who arrived to pay tribute to Barry included Roy Chubby Brown, Linda Nolan, Tommy Cannon, Bernie Clifton and John Altman.

Members of the public watched his brother Paul, 70, carry the coffin into Rotherham’s stadium, where the two brothers were honorary life presidents.

Four men carried the coffin in through the player’s entrance, including Paul, who had described Barry as his ‘very best friend’ after his death on August 5.

Four men carried the coffin in through the player’s entrance, including Paul, who, after Mr Elliot’s death on August 5, said he was ‘totally devastated at the death of my brother, partner and my very best pal’.

Paul Elliott arrives at the New York Stadium, Rotherham.
Paul Elliott arrives at the New York Stadium, Rotherham.
Don Maclean from Crackerjack arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Don Maclean from Crackerjack arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Comedian Roy Chubby Brown arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Comedian Roy Chubby Brown arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.

Barry Elliott found fame alongside his brother Paul as one half of the Chuckle Brothers in BBC comedy show ChuckleVision, which ran for 21 series from 1987 to 2009.

Members of the public, who mainly turned out in Rotherham United shirts, watched on as some of Mr Elliot’s close friends and family made their way inside for a private service.

Barbra Garston, 86, said she had come to the stadium to support Barry’s brother, Paul.

She said: ‘I’d also like to watch him go because he has been such a big thing for Rotherham and everywhere by making people happy.

‘I’ve got three generations which have grown up with them. So one by one, they’ve all watched them. So I’ve been involved anyway, whether I wanted to watch them or not.’

Sophie and Pete Sandiford from Gogglebox arrive at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Sophie and Pete Sandiford from Gogglebox arrive at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Maureen and Linda Nolan (right) arrive at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Maureen and Linda Nolan (right) arrive at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Actor John Altman who played Nick Cotton in EastEnders arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.
Actor John Altman who played Nick Cotton in EastEnders arrives at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for the funeral of Barry Chuckle.

Ms Garston made a sign to bring to the stadium, which read: ‘To a Yorkshire lad from a Yorkshire lass, goodbye from me to you.’

A young Chuckle Brothers ‘megafan’ travelled all the way from Birmingham to pay his respects to Barry Chuckle.

Alfie, 10, said: ‘I first went to see them at the pantomime in Wolverhampton around two years ago and I just became a megafan of them.

‘I just love their episodes and every morning I’m watching their episodes of Chucklevision, and it has never gotten old.

‘Everybody loves them. They’ve got a really good comedy, they’re funny and they just made people laugh.’

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