John Bird has died aged 86.

The comedian and actor fronted a number of sitcoms and also starred in many satirical TV comedy shows, often alongside John Fortune.

A statement announcing Bird's death said he died "peacefully" on Christmas Eve at Pendean care home in West Sussex and that a family funeral will be followed by a celebration of his life in the new year.

Bird and Fortune, known as The Long Johns, worked on many different series with impressionist Rory Bremner, most notably Bremner, Bird And Fortune which ran from 1999 to 2008. The format would see the duo interviewing each other, with Bird often playing a character called George Parr in the largely improvised segments.

Writing on Twitter, Bremner said: "Deeply saddened to hear that the great John Bird has left us. One of the most modest of men and most brilliant of satirists. And one of the last surviving pillars of the anti-establishment. If you do one thing today, watch one of his interview sketches with John Fortune and ask yourself if it's ever been more beautifully done. RIP George Parr. I used to watch from the wings and marvel at how the two friends made it look so effortless, so blissfully funny, their skill and enjoyment in the moment making light of the seriously detailed research that went into each piece."

Born in Nottingham, John Bird attended Cambridge University, which is where he first met Fortune. He directed the 1959 Cambridge Footlights Revue, which featured Peter Cook. Bird and Fortune would go on to be selected to appear in satirical BBC series That Was The Week That Was.

As an actor, Bird appeared in sitcoms including public relations comedy Absolute Power, legal sitcom Chambers and the BBC One sitcom Joint Account. The guest appearances on his CV include One Foot In The Grave, Jonathan Creek and Yes, Prime Minister.

He is survived by his wife Libby, a concert pianist, and stepsons Dan and Josh.

Below is a George Parr sketch: