Lionel Blair’s cheeky final dig to friend Amanda Barrie days before tragic death

Legendary showman Lionel Blair, who died one month ago, was still making brutal phone calls to his beloved friend Amanda Barrie just days before his death at 92

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Lionel Blair tells hilarious story of how he met his wife

Lionel Blair was still making TV favourite Amanda Barrie laugh just weeks before he died.

The pair have close friends for years and now the Corrie legend has opened up about his final few days.

Veteran entertainer, TV presenter and dancer Lionel passed away aged 92 last month.

The showbiz world has been paying tribute to the treasure, whose screen career spanned eight decades.

Amanda, his long-time pal, was heartbroken when she heard the terrible news but four weeks later, she has spoken about what he meant to her.

His cheeky final dig summed up their friendship as Amanda explained she hadn’t had the opportunity to say goodbye to many people she’d held dear in her life during the coronavirus lockdown.

Also losing her fellow on-screen husband Johnny Briggs and EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor, it has been a difficult time.

Amanda spoke to the Daily Star about a devastating 12 months and said: “I hadn’t seen Johnny for ages. And Barbara and Lionel I was still in touch with.

“In fact, two weeks before Lionel died he rang me and said: ‘I’ve got a new agent and she likes older people so shall I give them your name?’

“I love it, I love that’s how he was. But it’s true we have lost quite a lot.”

The dancer and Give Us a Clue star was a prominent figure on British TV screens since the 70s.

He died surrounded by his family, his management company said.

In recent years he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and The Real Marigold Hotel.

His agent said: “He got to a very ripe old age, he was loved by his family, and I think he died in their company, which is lovely.”

His good pal Christopher Biggins was quick to pay a personal tribute.

Remembering his friend, Christopher said: “He was a marvellous man, a wonderful entertainer of his time, the best.

“He was the king of the pantomime, like I am the queen of pantomime, he was the king. We never did panto together but what we did do together was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He was absolutely superb in that.”

He went on: “He was a wonderful dancer, a wonderful singer and he was a wonderful entertainer. He was superb in everything he did and the laughter we had was just wonderful.

“He was a wonderful performer and he will be sadly lost in this day and age.

“He was just full of stories and energy and life and I got to know him well during Give Us A Clue.

“What he did best was give off goodwill and energy – he meant well and for a whole lifetime up to the age of 92 all he did was spread a bit of happiness.”