Keith Harris, the British ventriloquist famous for his TV appearances with Orville, has died aged 67.

He passed away at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Tuesday morning after a long fight with cancer, his agent Robert C Kelly said.

Harris' showbiz career spanned more than 50 years.

The father-of-three had a number-four hit with Orville's Song in 1982 - selling 400,00 copies.

Between 1982 and 1990 he was a fixture of Saturday night TV with 'The Keith Harris Show' on BBC One.

Harris, whose other sidekick was called Cuddles, performed at both Prince William and Prince Harry's third birthdays at the request of Princess Diana.

Mr Kelly said: "It is with great sadness I announce the death of my friend and client Keith Harris whom I have known for well over 20 years and managed for the past 15 years."

"I spoke to Keith most days whether we had business to do or not. I think I laughed every single time we spoke."

"Keith was not only a technically great ventriloquist, he was also a gifted mimic and an extraordinarily funny man both onstage and off."

"Perhaps even rarer than that in showbiz, he was a thoroughly decent man, a great friend and a wonderful father and husband."

"The family have asked for privacy at this time."

After The Keith Harris Show came off air in 1990, the Hampshire-born star entertained families at Butlins. In 2005 he won the Channel 5 programme 'The Farm'.

Harris was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer in 2013 after suffering swelling in his abdomen.

Singer Aled Jones and culture Secretary Sajid Javid were among those to pay tribute within minutes of the news being announced.

"Very sad to hear that Keith Harris has died after a battle with cancer," Mr Javid wrote on Twitter. "Brought joy to my childhood."