Five years ago the much-loved actor and comedian Ronnie Corbett died aged 85

A statement from his publicist at the time said: "Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the nation's best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family.

The Northern Echo’s report on the death of Ronnie Corbett

"They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time."

Born Ronald Balfour Corbett in Edinburgh, he and Ronnie Barker rose to fame in the popular BBC comedy sketch show The Two Ronnies.

Corbett also had a starring role in David Frost's The Frost Report.

The Two Ronnies is still hailed as one of the most popular TV programmes of the late 20th century.

Corbett recently appeared on the BBC Radio 4 show When The Dog Dies, which saw him reunited with the writers of his hit sitcom Sorry!

Corbett began his acting career at the age of 15, when he starred in a pantomime at his local church youth club.

The versatile comedian also hosted the BBC One game show Small Talk for two years from 1994-96.

Corbett and his wife, Anne Hart, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary the previous year.

The much-loved actor was awarded a CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours for his services to charity and the entertainment industry.

Also that week, a pioneering free range egg farm was experiencing record production levels after hatching a plan to relax its hens by playing them hits by Ed Sheeran.

Egg producer Adrian Potter with some of his music-loving hens at the time

The Northern Echo’s report on the music-loving hens

Adrian Potter said the 200,000 chickens on his 400-acre family farm stopped clucking, pointed their heads up and became noticeably more relaxed after he played tunes by the Grammy Award-winning singer at high volumes.

Mr Potter, a then third generation egg farmer whose parents set up the country's second free range farm at Catton, near Thirsk, in 1970, said he had been astonished by the hens' reaction, having previously played classical, jazz and Justin Bieber tunes to them.

He said introducing the music and another innovations, such as tree-lined ranges, had contributed towards each chicken producing more than 300 eggs each during its lifetime, a rise of more than ten following what he admits was intended to be "a bit of fun rather than a scientific experiment".

Meanwhile, Durham Police could have introduced the UK's first constabulary cat following a five-year-old's letter to the then chief constable calling for moggies on the beat.

Eliza Adamson-Hopper Picture: TOM BANKS

The Northern Echo’s report on the police cat

Inspector Richie Allen, of the Dog Support Unit, had confirmed the force was considering incorporating cats into their fight against crime - although their role was yet undecided.

The announcement came after Eliza Adamson-Hopper wrote to chief constable Mike Barton urging him to consider the advantages that cats could have alongside their existing four-legged employees.

Much to her delight, the County Durham youngster soon found a letter in the post from the police chief praising her theory.