Aw, no. Just stop it. Stop it, will you?

"Tell you what, there's a quiz show about wallpaper going begging. How soon can we expect you?"
"Erm...phooooof. When do Hedgehogs stop hibernating?"
"Hang on... Maureen, when do Hedgehogs stop hibernating? No, that's bats... Uh-huh? Really? Sometime in Spring, we think. Probably."

Oh, for christ's sake.

Geoffrey Perkins, quiet and unassuming. The great facilitator. The man who simply by doing his job, gently, with care and infinite wisdom, caused many of us to laugh longer and harder than we probably deserve...no longer with us. And in such a stupid, pointless way. Mown down in an idiotic road accident.

Without Geoffrey Perkins, you wouldn't have had your lives brightened by The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. No Father Ted. No Harry Enfield. The Fast Show. Radio Active, KYTV, Saturday/Friday Live, Spitting Image... Happiness, Big Train, tons of others, he was in there, shaping them. Making sure they were right.

I never met Geoffrey Perkins, but I'll miss him. Not only for what he gave us (which is surely more than enough for one lifetime) but for what we can't have any more - that is, exciting, innovative, and above all *funny* Comedy shows. You know. The ones you laugh at. Loudly, inordinately and with a total lack of self-consciousness.

Thank you, Mr Perkins. You'll be remembered long after your time. We'll make sure of that.