TRIBUTES have been paid to a Hampshire-born star by a local theatre that had hoped to welcome him back.

Ventriloquist Keith Harris famed for his work with puppet Orville has died aged 67, it was confirmed yesterday.

But Ferneham Hall in Fareham, where he had proved a winner with audiences in pantomimes for five successive years, told how it had been in talks with the star about a return.

Keith, who was born in Lyndhurst and whose mother was a dancer and father a singer/comedian, grew up in dressing rooms.

The father-of-three made his stage debut at Southampton Guildhall and his mother ran a dance school in the city before the family moved north a few years later. He spent his childhood doing a double act with his dad on the working men's club circuit.

Keith took up ventriloquism at the age of 14, where he would eventually hit the big time in the 1980s and 1909s with Orville, the orphaned baby bird who could not fly. The duo went on to become favourites on television and star in numerous pantomimes.

Keith was suffering from cancer, which he was first diagnosed with in 2013.

Rod Cameron, general manager at Ferneham Hall, said he had spoken to Keith a couple of weeks ago as they kept in touch and had spoken to him about coming back to Fareham to do regular shows.

“It was just a case from his point of view was getting in better health,” said Mr Cameron.

“Obviously I'm shocked now. I'm very upset.

“That’s life isn’t it and unfortunately not being able to bring him back to Ferneham Hall to put on a show.

“He wasn’t in a good state health wise but mentally he was still very positive, upbeat and obviously trying to battle through it.

“He just didn’t give up. He was doing everything for his family and young children.

“Our sympathies go out to Sarah and the family.”

Keith appeared in five pantomimes at Ferneham Hall, the last one in 2008, including Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Aladdin and Goldilocks and the Three Bears and broke box office records.

“He was very popular – people still ask when he’s coming back again,” added Mr Cameron.

“He was brilliant, a nice chap, a workaholic, very professional and a great guy to work with.

“He had a good sense of humour and everyone liked him. He’ll be sadly missed.”

Speaking to the Daily Echo in 2007, Keith told of his life in showbusiness.

“I am a workaholic and it’s difficult. It’s a great ride if you want to come along with me but not everybody wants to be living out of suitcases,” he said.

“It’s so different to how it used to be. I was up and down the country.

“I collapsed once with exhaustion and was taken to hospital, trying not to let anybody down – everybody wanted a piece of me then.

“All sorts of things happen in your life but you’re dedicated to this business, that’s what you do.

“So you're always trying to better yourself and always trying to do bigger things.”