Legendary Australian comedian Barry Humphries has been hospitalised, according to multiple reports.
The 89-year-old has suffered complications from hip replacement surgery in recent months, with his health worsening in the past week, Sunrise entertainment reporter Peter Ford said on Wednesday.
Humphries was in hospital in Sydney, and while there were serious concerns about what came next, he was under great care, Ford said.
“Things are tough, and all we can do at this point in time is to basically give a big shout out to Barry Humphries and say, ‘Australia loves you and we will always be grateful for everything you have given us’,” Ford said.
“Barry has a fighting spirit and he’s not going to give up easily.”
Ford told Sydney radio 2GB that Humphries had a fall after his hip surgery.
“This has led to a sort of downward spiral. He was in absolute agony and I’m told things haven’t improved at all. In fact, they’ve gotten worse and he is now re-admitted to hospital,” he said.
The Nine newspapers reported that Humphries answered his phone “with a feeble ‘hello’ ” when contacted on Wednesday. Someone then took the phone from him.
Humphries’ wife Lizzie Spender, who was by his side, told Nine he was “fine”.
Humphries, born and raised in Melbourne, has delighted and outraged audiences for decades as an entertainer and man of a million masks – his most famous, Dame Edna.
Last year, the comedian – who is largely London-based – toured Britain with his show The Man Behind the Mask. He had been due to tour Australia this year.
– with AAP
