The late performer told a friend that he was ‘not in showroom condition’ while in hospital (Picture: Yui Mok/PA)

Barry Humphries talked of plans to reprise one of his most memorable characters in a ‘new show’ in the weeks before his death, a friend has claimed.

On Saturday April 22, it was confirmed that entertainer Humphries, also known by his celebrated drag alter ego Dame Edna Everage, had died at the age of 89 following complications from hip replacement surgery.

The late performer’s family released a statement that read: ‘He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit.’

They added that he was planning more shows ‘that will sadly never be’, concluding by writing: ‘The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.’

In recent weeks, Humphries was hospitalised in a ‘serious’ condition, with his close friend Bill Muirhead, a founding partner of advertising firm M&C Saatchi, saying that he called him on the phone recently while he was in hospital.

‘He just said: “I am not in showroom condition,”’ the advertising executive recalled to The Advertiser.

Sir Les Patterson couldn’t have been more different from Dame Edna Everage (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Humphries reportedly told Muirhead that he wanted to bring back his portrayal of the Australian statesman Sir Les Patterson, a character with drunken and offensive tendencies who was the polar opposite of Dame Edna.

However, the late entertainer was said to have been concerned over whether a song about ‘the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ – a term given to Australian soldiers during the Second World War by villagers in Papua New Guinea who were recruited to help bring the troops supplies – would be ‘racist’.

‘He said: “Was it racist?” but we checked with the Australia War Memorial in Canberra and they said: “Absolutely not, it is not racist,” and he was keen for something for a new show. This was all for now,’ Muirhead said.

Fans across the globe are mourning the loss of the late entertainer (Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

The businessman added that during his last conversation with Humphries, his friend said that he was ‘in so much pain’ and was just ‘bored for being there for so long’, but he ‘still had his sense of humour’.

Tributes poured in for Humphries following the news of his death from individuals including Ricky Gervais, Piers Morgan and Matt Lucas.

‘Farewell, Barry Humphries, you Comedy genius,’ Gervais said, while Rylan Clark tweeted: ‘Seeing all the Barry Humphries clips is just so warming. What a genuine genius. Such a sad loss.’

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Carol Vorderman wrote: ‘You will be mourned Barry Humphries 😔I only met you a few times but that look in your eyes full of bright intelligence and mischief, knowing trouble was ahead and looking forward to every special second of it: I’ll never forget it. Thank you Sir. A genius 🖤.’

Lucas added: ‘I wonder if all geniuses are as lovely as Barry Humphries. Thank you for delighting and inspiring us. Quite simply, you were the greatest.’

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The late performer told a friend that he was ‘not in showroom condition’ while in hospital.