RUSS ABBOT has led tributes to comedian Freddie Starr, who has died aged 76.

Abbot, who appeared in Starr’s Variety Madhouse comedy series in 1979, described the stand-up as a “loose comedy cannon”.

The 71-year-old credited his appearance on that show with helping to launch his career, telling the Press Association: “You never knew what he would do next. A natural funnyman and hilarious.”

Starr, a household name who rose to fame in the 1970s, was found dead at his home in Spain, The Sun said. At the height of his fame he was one of the biggest acts in Britain.

But the comic had a fraught relationship with his Bradford fans after ducking out of a show in the city three times.

The unpredictable comedian had to go in hiding after cancelling a show at St George’s Hall with just three days’ notice in 1999.

Merseyside-born Starr was the lead singer of the Merseybeat group the Midniters during the 1960s and rose to national prominence in the early 1970s after appearing on Opportunity Knocks.