Four candles burned at the back of the altar as grandees from the golden age of British television paid their respects at the funeral of Ronnie Corbett.

Ronnie Corbett did not want his friend Jimmy Tarbuck to see him as he suffered from a form of motor neurone disease, the comedian has said.

Friends and fans of Ronnie Corbett, the diminutive titan of British comedy, have said “goodnight” to the star for the last time after his death at the age of 85.