Comedian and game show host Tom O’Connor dies aged 81 after long battle with Parkinson’s Disease 

Beloved comedian and game show host Tom O’Connor died in hospital today aged 81 following a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, his family said.

The veteran stand-up star rose to fame on TV show Opportunity Knocks and went on to star in The Comedians and host shows including Name That Tune, Crosswits, Pick Pockets and the Tom O’Connor Show. 

O’Connor, who was born in Lancashire but is a famous Liverpudlian, originally trained as a mathematics and music teacher, but would spend his evenings entertaining crowds in working men’s clubs, performing comedy routines and honing his craft.

In a statement, his daughter-in-law – former athlete Denise Lewis – said O’Connor had died after a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s. He leaves a wife and four children.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow. 

Beloved comedian and game show host Tom O’Connor died in hospital today aged 81 following a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease

Tom O’Connor and Gloria Hunniford at a ‘Strictly Tea Dancing’ charity auction for the Caron Keating Foundation, London, November 7, 2010

Tom O’Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane in London for the 1998 Comic Heritage Comedy Awards