with The Val Doonican Show which ran on the BBC from 1965 to 1986, featuring his own performances and guest artists.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Val Doonican on his show in 1982.

He was also rarely out of the UK singles chart in the 1960s and 70s with songs such as Walk Tall, The Special Years and Elusive Butterfly.

Sarah Doonican said her father and mother, Lynn, had been married for 54 years. Lynn was at the family home with relatives on Thursday morning.

“I don’t think there’s a person in the world that would have a bad thing to say about him,” his daughter said. “He was every bit as lovely as he appeared on the television. There was no [nasty] side to him at all. He was a delightful, delightful man.”

Ina statement, his family said: “He leaves behind his wife, Lynn, daughters Sarah and Fiona and grandchildren Bethany and Scott. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by family, friends and his many fans.”

The singer, who was born Michael Valentine Doonican, often joked that it took him 17 years to gain overnight success.

He started performing in his home town, was featured on Irish radio and appeared in Waterford’s first-ever television broadcast. In 1951 he moved to England to join the Irish quartet The Four Ramblers, who toured and performed on BBC Radio. The group also supported the late Anthony Newley on tour, who persuaded Doonican to launch his solo career.

In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the Palladium,