Freddie Starr is said to have died ‘penniless’ and estranged from his six children after moving to a one-bed flat on the Costa Del Sol where he risked becoming homeless.
The comedy legend, who died of a heart attack age 76 in 2019, was set to have a pauper’s burial before a kind stranger stepped in to foot his funeral bill.
Entertainer Freddie made a fortune thanks to his successful TV career hosting his own show on the BBC throughout the 1970s and 80s.
But by the time of his death, he was living in a modest home in Spain, which he was apparently under threat of losing, meaning he had no funds to support the cost of his own funeral when he passed away.
It was believed that Freddie would be given a pauper’s funeral in Spain, which is a basic burial funded by taxpayers for those without means.
The deceased are buried in an anonymous or shared plot, which was a far cry from his wishes of his body being flown back to the UK to be laid to rest at home.
Freddie Starr is said to have died ‘penniless’ and estranged from his six children after moving to a one-bed flat on the Costa Del Sol where he risked becoming homeless
Entertainer Freddie made a fortune thanks to his successful TV career hosting his own show on the BBC throughout the 1970s and 80s (pictured)
His carer Nelly, from Bulgaria, discovered his body and later divulged that he had not been in contact with his relatives for years.
The estrangement created doubt over his send off before a stranger stepped in to cover the cost of his funeral, reports the Daily Record.
Speaking at the time, Nelly revealed: ‘Freddie had bad feelings about back home, he felt the British people had deserted him.
‘It would be terrible if Freddie ends up being buried in a pauper’s grave. I don’t want to see that happen but I’m worried if I tried to do something about it his relatives would object,’ she added.
As well as leaving behind half a dozen children, he was also survived by three former spouses and a widow. Departing with nothing but outstanding debt.
But it was funeral director Michel Fogg, from Sheffield, who paid for Freddie’s repatriation and funeral.
Michael said: ‘Anyone who can make a funeral director laugh must be a bloody good comedian. And Freddie Starr could make me laugh. He shouldn’t be buried in foreign land, he should be brought back to be in his own country.’
It meant that Freddie could return to England to be buried.Â
The comedy legend, who died of a heart attack age 76 in 2019, was set to have a pauper’s burial before a kind stranger stepped in to foot his funeral bill
By the time of his death, he was living in a modest home in Spain , which he was apparently under threat of losing, meaning he had no funds to support the cost of his own funeral when he passed away (pictured what is thought to be the last photo of Freddie)
Michael continued: ‘For those asking why I am paying, well it is my money, it is my business and that is what I want to spend my money on.
‘He should be reunited with the people he loved and his family. He shouldn’t be buried in foreign land, he should be brought back to be in his own country.’Â
Freddie was born in Liverpool in 1943 and went on to become one of the most famous faces in British comedy.Â
He rose to fame after appearances on Opportunity Knocks and the Royal Variety Performance, and a high-profile television career followed – with his profile being boosted in 1986 after he was the subject of the infamous newspaper headline ‘Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster’.Â
He established himself as a popular stand-up act, and became arguably the best-known comedian of his age, earning thousands of fans and £2million a year, performing to packed audiences.Â
But his later years were marred by allegations of historic sexual assault and a bitter and ultimately unsuccessful defamation lawsuit that cost him a rumoured £1 million before fleeing to Spain where he spent the remainder of his years.
Freddie had been the lead singer of the Merseybeat group the Midniters during the 1960s and rose to national prominence in the early 1970s after appearing on Opportunity Knocks.
He was known for his eccentric and unpredictable behaviour. During the 1990s, he starred in several TV shows including Freddie Starr (1993-94), The Freddie Starr Show (1996-98) and An Audience with Freddie Starr in 1996.
Freddie was born in Liverpool in 1943 and went on to become one of the most famous faces in British comedy.
His comedy show, Freddie Starr’s Variety Madhouse, had only six episodes in one series when it was broadcast in 1979. It starred Russ Abbot, Mike Newman, Toni Palmer, Norman Collier and Bella Emberg.Â
The father-of-six married first wife Betty when he was 17. They had a son and divorced after 12 years. He went on to have three more children with his second wife, Sandy.Â
His third wife, Donna, was 27 years younger than him. They had a daughter called Ebony, and were married and divorced twice. He wed his fourth wife Sophie in January 2013. Â
His comedy debut on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks led to an appearance in the 1970s Royal Variety Performance and a place in the line-up of sketch show Who Do You Do?
Perhaps bolstered by the Sun’s outrageous hamster headline in 1986, Starr had a string of self-titled sketch and talk shows over the course of the 1990s.
The father-of-six married first wife Betty when he was 17. They had a son and divorced after 12 years. He went on to have three more children with his second wife, Sandy (pictured with wife Sandy and their chidren Donna and Jody)Â
It was not all clean family fun – in 1997 he sparked outrage by hurling live chickens into an audience at the Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Kerry Duthie, who was in the audience, said: ‘It was absolutely wicked. People were screaming and there were feathers flying in the air. The chickens were flapping about in a panic.
‘I am not a big animal rights supporter, but to see that happen was so cruel. If it was a cat or dog, people would have been up in arms. But because it was a chicken they got away with it.’
Starr shrugged off the criticism, saying: ‘There is nothing wrong with what happened and it will be left in the video. It was not cruel at all.
‘As far as the chickens go, it was a one-off. They have a professional handler and were kept in the cool outside the theatre before going on stage.’
