A RADIO star who voiced a popular puppet character has died at the age of 76.
Tributes have flooded in for Australian entertainer Jamie Dunn, who brought life to the mischievous puppet Agro and presented local radio.
Brit-born Jamie died at his family home north of Brisbane, Queensland, this morning.
Longtime friend of Jamie’s 4BC Drive host Gary Hardgrave led the tributes to the star, revealing he died “suddenly”.
He announced: “Apparently he woke up this morning not feeling too well, said to the love of his life Maree ‘I’m going to go back to bed for a little while’ and unfortunately he passed away there.
“I’ve known him for a long time, this bloke was an entertainer his whole life.
“He loved the crowds, loved the audience, made everyone laugh and made some people cry with some of the funny stuff he did.
“This bloke was loved, he really was, a big larrikin.”
Former colleague Brett Debritz called Jamie a “mastermind”.
He said: “Dunn was a giant of Brisbane radio — the comedic backbone of the B105 Morning Crew.”
Jamie was a fixture of Australian TV and radio for three decades after moving to the country from the UK as a child.
The comedy legend’s former co-host Ann-Maree Biggar gave an emotional interview, calling Jamie an “icon”.
Fighting back tears, she told 9 News: “I would just like to say thanks.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to see that sort of comedy and silliness on Australian television again, we were a one-off.
“I think most Australians should raise a glass tonight to a great Australian icon that we’re all going to miss terribly.”
Jamie became a household name in the Eighties when he starred in Agro’s Cartoon Connection.
The Brit-born entertainer took over the character in 1982 after the original puppeteer left Channel 7 – Jamie rocketed the puppet to national fame.
He once shared an embarrassing on-air mishap which happened in his early days of puppeteering.
Jamie said: “The original Agro had a problem with Channel 7 about ownership of the character, and Channel 7 dismissed him and asked me if I would do it.
“They called me on the Friday and I started on the Saturday morning and I practised the voice all Friday night.
“I thought I was going pretty well until the floor manager crawled over to me and held up a note that read, ‘Can you please make the puppet’s mouth move when he speaks’.”
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner called Dunn “a proud Brisbane talent who brought joy to millions of homes across the country”.
He said: “For so many Queensland kids like me growing up in the 80s and 90s, Agro’s Cartoon Connection was a daily dose of chaos, laughter and cheeky humour.
“Jamie’s quick wit and comic timing turned a puppet into a cultural icon that entertained a generation of Aussies.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the many fans who grew up with Jamie and his iconic sense of humour.”
