80s funnyman Duncan Norvelle is said to have died almost penniless after falling out with TV bosses before succumbing to ill health. Throughout his tenure on TV, Duncan became a staple of British Saturday night TV and was known for his trademark “Chase me” catchphrase.

He also hosted a pilot episode of It’s A Hoot, before it later became Blind Date presented by Cilla Black. Despite his success, the comedian was reported to have spent his final years living in a terraced house in Romford, East London. After his TV gigs ran dry, Duncan attempted to make a series of comebacks after suffering two devastating strokes in 2012, which left half his body paralysed and confined to a hospital bed for 18 months.

After this, Duncan made regular appearances on stage in a wheelchair or walking with the aid of a stick while incorporating his health struggles into his comedy act.

He often described himself as “a special-needs guest star” and joked that he had had to change his catchphrase to “push me.”

But with a string of failed marriages and relationships behind him, Duncan fell on hard times financially.

After setting up two companies in 2016, both called Chase Me Management, they were dissolved the following year due to a compulsory strike off.

At 66, Duncan performed at pubs and small clubs across the country. His sole mainstream TV appearance was an 80s special edition of Pointless Celebrities in 2019.