British Comedian Jethro Dies after Contracting Covid-19

British comedian Geoffrey Row “Jethro” has passed away at the age of 73 due to complications from Covid-19, his family has announced on Facebook.

The family’s statement on his Facebook page stated he died Tuesday saying “our lives will never be the same without him”.

Geoffrey Rowe, better known as Jethro, stopped touring in 2020 after more than 50 years on the road.

“He just loved to make people laugh… and he made millions of people laugh,” said John Miles, his manager.

A comedian from St Buryan, Cornwall, Jethro’s popularity grew throughout the 1980s, and in 1990 he appeared on the Des O’Connor show for his first nationwide appearance.

Afterwards, he stated that this performance gave him a national profile and led to him appearing on other TV shows and performing on stage all over the country.

One of the biggest stars from Cornwall, he appeared on the Royal Variety Show in 2001.

In a tweet, Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall, said: “This gloriously un-PC Cornishman, Geoffrey Rowe, has left us.

Supremely gifted comedian

I laughed myself to the point of helplessness in his presence. A supremely gifted comedian. Thoughts with all he loved. Geddon bey.”

On Twitter, Jim Davidson, who Jethro appeared with on shows such as The Generation Game, wished him a fond farewell, writing: “RIP Jethro, you will be missed.”

In a tweet, former heavyweight boxing world champion Frank Bruno stated that he spent a few minutes with him a couple of weeks ago in Plymouth and that he was a “very funny man”.

Another tribute came from GWR, which tweeted a picture of a sign at Camborne Train Station with his name on it, remembering the punchline to one of his most famous routines: “This train don’t stop Camborne Wednesdays.”

The message said: “May you rest in peace knowing that the train stops at Camborne every Wednesday.”

On Wednesday, however, the train company had to admit the joke was true, as they had to switch to a replacement service due to improvement work.

He loved making people laugh

In an interview with BBC Radio Cornwall, Miles said he had known the comedian for 40 years, describing him as “the funniest guy” and “a lovely, lovely guy”.

He appealed to everybody, no matter what your age, or where you came from, whether you were royalty or just like me. It’s wonderful that he loved making people laugh – and millions were made to laugh because of him.”

During an interview with the BBC in 2020, Jethro said that making people laugh was like a drug to him.

It’s great to see old women laugh because they don’t get out much… they are wonderful.”

In his words, the Des O’Connor Show made him a national figure.

While I was giving the performance, I was just playing to the theatre audience, so I didn’t know anything about what was happening outside in the country until about three days after the show.

Jethro also explained that he retired because he was having trouble remembering his jokes.

He said, “I can’t remember things well, and sometimes I get in a crowd of people, and everyone is laughing, and then everyone stops laughing, and there’s nothing in my head – that isn’t a good place to be.”

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Jethro’s upcoming tour dates in 2020 were postponed.

Source: BBC