PRESENTER Chris Evans yesterday said farewell to his friend and television colleague Ronald Fraser.
He joined Sean Connery and Peter O'Toole to carry the coffin at the funeral in Hampstead, north London, of the 66-year-old actor, who died last week after a sudden illness.
Evans, who wept before and after the service, worked with Fraser on his Channel 4 show TFI Friday.
Fraser played the comical Lord of Love who read romantic poetry and pronounced on all matters of the heart.
However, he was also a long-established character actor with films such as The Wild Geese, Scandal. and The Killing of Sister George to his credit.
Long-time friend O'Toole read the lengthy poem Grantchester by Rupert Brooke. It had been Mr Fraser's dying wish he recite it.
O'Toole paid tribute to ''incorrigibly naughty, noble old Ron'', and joked: ''Ron said to me: 'When I pop off, Pedro, I want you to read Grantchester over my coffin - all of it'.''
The Lawrence of Arabia star then joked about Mr Fraser's cheeky wit.
He said: ''When a nurse came into Ron's room with a bottle of Lucozade for him, she asked 'Would you like a drink, Mr Fraser?' He replied: 'Only if you're having one, dear'.''
Afterwards, comic actor Windsor Davies said: ''Everytime you saw him he would always cheer you up. He was a very funny man and always charming.
''I remember being asked to play Sir Toby Belch in one of the few serious roles I have ever done. I told Ron and he said: 'High time, dear boy. Make sure you give them stick'. He will be very much missed.''
Mr Fraser's TV credits included Boon, Lovejoy, Taggart, Minder, and his most famous role in The Misfit.
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