Legendary 80s TV star died almost penniless in run-down terraced home after years of tragic health setbacks
LEGENDARY TV star Duncan Norvelle died almost penniless in a rundown terraced home, it is claimed.
The comedian – who passed away aged 66 last Thursday morning – had suffered multiple strokes in recent years.
He rose to fame in the 1980s with his catchphrase “Chase me!” but eventually fell out of favour with TV bigwigs.
Norvelle’s partner Linda Trevallion told The Sun he died from a chest infection and sepsis.
He had been living with the effects of two strokes suffered in 2012 that had left him paralysed down the left side of his body for 18 months.
The funny man made a comeback starting in 2015, touring pubs and small clubs across the UK.
However, two firms Norvelle set up in 2016, both called Chase Me Management, were dissolved the following year with each subject to a compulsory strike off, reports MailOnline.
Norvelle earned extra money recording personalised video messages for fans – and even worked on cruise ships.
He spent the last 12 years of his life living with partner Linda at her two-bedroom home.
And while he did appear on a special edition of Pointless Celebrities in 2019 – it was the first TV slot in years and would prove to be his last.
A source told the Mail: “Duncan was not gay but his act was based on camp humour which was popular at the time.
“He once said he based his persona on a cross between Michael Crawford’s Frank Spencer and John Inman’s Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served.
“His TV bookings dried up as a new breed of left-leaning political comedians took over our screens. He suddenly found himself out in the cold.”
Norvelle’s first comeback gig – after three years away – was at the Embassy Theatre, Skegness, with funds from his show would be allocated to the Stroke Association.
However, getting his career going again was far from easy.
In 2019 he was even reportedly cruelly kicked off a variety show after organisers allegedly said he was “too slow” and “wheelchair bound”.
While a performance at a club in Rugeley, Staffordshire, was cancelled at the last minute.
Covid proved another setback but he announced in 2021 he was “back in business” and taking bookings for comedy shows and after dinner speaking.
In a Christmas message posted the same year he said: “It’s so nice to still be wanted to perform for your events.
“Laughter is the best medicine that anyone can be given. I also want to thank my incredible partner Lynn.
“She is my rock and always will be and without her I would be lost.”
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Norvelle was born on April 2, 1958 near Loughborough in the East Midlands, and pursued a career as an entertainer after winning £20 in a talent show while on holiday in Bournemouth as a teen.
The comedian rose to fame on ITV variety show Saturday Royal in the early 1980s.
He went on to host the pilot episode of what would become Blind Date and made regular appearances on the likes of Surprise! Surprise! and The Bob Monkhouse Show.
In 2011 he appeared in Celebrity Come Dine With Me with Sean Hughes, Gina Yashere and Paul Tonkinson.
Linda told The Sun last week:
“He’s at peace and he’s made millions of people laugh in his lifetime. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad thing about him,” she said.
The couple were together for 12 years, with Linda saying he “wasn’t really showbiz, he wasn’t one for going to showbiz parties”.
She added that Norvelle was always “very gracious” with his fans, however.
And despite them never officially marrying, Linda said: “We were together like husband and wife.”
They met through a mutual friend.
She went on to say: “I fell in love with the man, it made no difference about the stroke. I helped him, but he could do a lot for himself.”
Linda, as well as Norvelle’s son Jack, 15, and daughter Yasmine, 35, were with him when he died.
However, other daughter Sophie, 44, could not get back in time from Spain.
Linda added: “I never wish anyone to suffer. I just want to still hold him, and love him a bit more. It’s never enough. I knew it was coming but you’re never prepared.”