Daryl Somers receives unique gift at John Blackman's emotional funeral
The who's-who of Australian TV have turned out to farewell John Blackman at an emotional funeral in Melbourne.
Hey Hey it's Saturday host Daryl Somers led the tributes to his late friend, reflecting on their decades-long friendship and side-by-side career.
"He was so wonderful and he was so sharp and saw humour in everything. John was an optimist and we loved him so much,” Somers said.
During the heartfelt memorial, Somers received a precious gift from Blackman's wife of 52 years Cecile, who gifted him the famous Dickie Knee puppet to the remaining Hey Hey It's Saturday stars.
John Blackman's co-stars from across three decades of Australian TV were also in attendance, with Wilbur Wilde, Red Symonds, Eddie McGuire and Nine's Livinia Nixon among mourners.
"There was a whole lotta love in the room, for him, for everything that he's done for everybody, for the kindness he's shown everyone," Nixon said.
Mourners reflected on his quick wit and most famous character Dickie Knee, who took the mickey out of some of the biggest stars of the time.
"A very sad day though it's kind of a very special time, all that time in variety. And another one's gone," Entertainer Rhonda Burchmore said.
Some of Blackman's old radio colleagues also paid tribute, with veteran 3AW presenter Philip Brady saying, "We became best buddies a long, long time ago and had so many laughs together over the years."
"And I'll be forever grateful to John for the humour he brought into our lives. He really enriched our lives and we are poorer for his passing."
At the time of his death, Blackman had been suffering bone and skin cancer, and had undergone major surgeries to control the disease.
Image credits: Nine