Comedian Duncan Norvelle died at the age of 66 on Thursday after battling a chest infection and sepsis – 12 years after suffering a stroke which left half his body paralysed.
Duncan was a familiar face on British TV in the 1980s and was known for his catchphrase ‘chase me!’ and camp humour.
He leaves behind his girlfriend Linda Trevallion who cared for him after his stroke. He had three children: Jack, 15, Sophie, 44, and Yasmin, 35.
Linda confirmed he passed away on Thursday at 8.15am. She told The Sun he died from a chest infection and sepsis, but was not in any pain.
She said: ‘He’s at peace and he’s made millions of people laugh in his lifetime. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad thing about him,” she said
Even though they never married, Linda said: ‘We were together like husband and wife. I fell in love with the man, it made no difference about the stroke. I helped him, but he could do a lot for himself.’
Comedian Duncan Norvelle has died at the age of 66 from a chest infection and sepsis – 12 years after suffering a stroke which left half his body paralysed
Duncan was familiar face on British TV in the 1980s and was known for his catchphrase ‘chase me!’ and camp humour
Socialite Lizzie Cundy was one of the first to pay tribute to him, writing on Twitter: ‘Very sad to hear comedian Duncan Norvelle has passed away’
Linda, Jack and Yasmine were with him when he died, but sadly, Sophie could not get back in time from Spain.
Linda heartbreakingly said: ‘I never wish anyone to suffer. I just want to still hold him, and love him a bit more. It’s never enough. I knew it was coming but you’re never prepared.’
Socialite Lizzie Cundy was one of the first to pay tribute to him, writing on Twitter: ‘Very sad to hear comedian Duncan Norvelle has passed away. His famous trade mark saying, ‘chase me chase me’ used to make me laugh so much.
‘Sending all my love and thoughts to his family.’
Comedian Jim Davidson also paid tribute to the star, as he took to social media to write: ‘All of us at Ustreme were saddened to hear about the passing of Duncan Norvelle.
‘We send out our heartfelt condolences to Linda & the rest of Duncan’s family. Rest in peace Duncan. You were, and always will be, a Proper Comedian.’
Fellow comedian and Duncan’s friend Tommy Cannon wrote: ‘Very sad news to hear the passing of one of my mates, Duncan Norvelle today, fond memories working with him in summer season, and recently doing a cruise with him. My thoughts go out to all his family at this time, you’ll be greatly missed mate, rest easy.’
In 2012 Duncan suffered a stroke and was told afterwards that it was unlikely he would ever walk or talk properly again. He met Linda shortly after through a mutual friend.
Afterwards however he defiantly said: ‘I saw a lot of stroke patients give up and not question what the doctors were saying to them but I was determined to get better and live my life.’
Following the stroke he spent 18 months in hospital to regain his speech and mobility.
Comedian Jim Davidson also paid tribute to the star, as he took to social media to write: ‘All of us at Ustreme were saddened to hear about the passing of Duncan Norvelle’
Fellow comedian and Duncan’s friend Tommy Cannon wrote: ‘Very sad news to hear the passing of one of my mates, Duncan Norvelle today’
In 2012 Duncan suffered a stroke and was told afterwards that it was unlikely he would ever walk or talk properly again (seen with Roger De Courcey)
Afterwards however he defiantly said: ‘I saw a lot of stroke patients give up and not question what the doctors were saying to them but I was determined to get better and live my life’
He said at the time: ‘It was an incredible wake-up call and I now live my life very differently.’
After his hospitalisation he discovered that his blood pressure was sky-high, one of the greatest contributing factors to a stroke.
After nine weeks in hospital, he cancelled his summer season with comedy duo Cannon and Ball, and was replaced by Stu Francis.
In 2015, Norvelle chose the Embassy Theatre, Skegness, as his first performance after over three years off-stage, promising that funds from his show would be allocated to the Stroke Association.
Norvelle rose to fame on the ITV variety show Saturday Royal in the early 1980s.
He famously filmed the pilot for iconic ITV show Blind Date in 1985, then named It’s A Hoot, before the job was ultimately given to Surprise Surprise host Cilla Black.
‘In the pilot, Duncan hadn’t been able to get the logistics, but Cilla was great at all the army-like manoeuvres – turn left here, look into that camera, introduce this now,’ Alan Boyd, LWT head of entertainment, told The Guardian of their decision to replace their original presenter.
‘She was in her element, a natural with the boys and the girls, hysterical from day one, and the public adored her. She wasn’t the big glamorous star, she was just normal. She was you.’
Before his life-changing illness in April 2012, Duncan admitted that he was ‘living at breakneck speed’.
Duncan is seen left on Pointless Celebrities in 2019
Norvelle rose to fame on the ITV variety show Saturday Royal in the early 1980s
He appeared on a celebrity comedian edition of Come Dine With Me with Gina Yashere, Paul Tonkinson and Sean Hughes
His hectic work schedule saw him driving thousands of miles a year to perform in clubs and theatres across the country.
He has previously said: ‘I didn’t have time to worry about my health.’
Linda visited him in the hospital amid the early days of his recovery.
‘I was told he’d had a heart attack,’ she said at the time.
‘When I saw him I was shocked. His face had fallen and he couldn’t lift his head from the pillow. I hadn’t realised how serious a stroke could be.’
When he recovered Duncan said of the stroke: ‘I would urge people to get their blood pressure checked regularly and to get help straight away if they experience sudden facial or arm weakness or slurred speech as these are all symptoms of a stroke.
‘It’s a killer and I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones.’
Before the strokes, Duncan had complained of a ‘terrible headache’ and went to bed early but when he got up, he collapsed to the floor and passed out.
When he couldn’t move the left side of his body he knew what had happened.
Once he was in hospital, the TV star suffered a second stroke.
He delighted his fans in 1991 when he appeared on the ITV comedy panel game show Through the Keyhole.
In 2008 the comedian impressed fans when he went on tour with the Ricky Tomlinson Laughter Show.
He also spent the 2009 pantomime season playing Buttons in Cinderella in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.