Ronnie Corbett died as officials were considering honouring him with a knighthood, according to reports.
It is understood a panel that bestows the titles had received letters from famous names in support of his nomination, and had it been approved the comedian would have become Sir Ronnie in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List.
Ronnie Corbett was made a CBE by the Queen in 2012 (Jonathan Brady/PA)
He died on Thursday aged 85, having been one of Britain’s most popular entertainers in a career spanning several decades.
According to the Daily Telegraph, a low-key campaign led by comedian David Walliams to include Corbett on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List was launched amid concerns over his deteriorating health.
Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes, who sits on the arts and media honours committee, told the newspaper he thought 'he [Corbett] should have been awarded a knighthood', although he refused to discuss the workings of the panel.
Writing in the Daily Mail, a friend of the entertainer, Michael Thornton, said he contacted the Cabinet Office to propose a knighthood 'several months ago'.
Ronnie Corbett died this week aged 85 (Yui Mok/PA)
He said there was a 'virtual stampede on the part of celebrated figures' when it came to gathering letters in support of the nomination.
At the time Corbett was 'fighting to survive' after being diagnosed with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease, Mr Thornton said.
The entertainer’s first honour came in 1978 when he was made an OBE alongside comedy partner Ronnie Barker – the duo were among Britain's most popular stars for their sketch show The Two Ronnies.
Ronnie Corbett was made an OBE in 1978, then a CBE in 2012 (Zak Hussein/PA)
In 2011 Ronnie said he did not imagine he would receive a knighthood, adding that Barker, who died in 2005, should have been made Sir Ronnie.
He was made CBE in 2012, although the knighthood some felt he also deserved eluded him.
Ronnie Corbett had said he did not expect to be knighted (Rebecca Naden/PA)
Speaking in 2015, Sir Bruce Forsyth questioned why figures from the world of comedy 'seem to be left out'.
In a tribute to the diminutive comedian in The Sun on Friday, the former Strictly Come Dancing host added: “A great big hole has been left in show business.”
