Barry Humphries, the comedian who portrays Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, is in "a serious condition" in hospital and is "surrounded by family". The Australian comedian, 89, recently had hip replacement surgery.
However, he suffered complications and was readmitted to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. Entertainment reporter Peter Ford told Australia's Channel Seven Sunrise programme that Mr Humphries "won't give up easily", reports the Mirror.
He said: "At this moment Barry is a serious condition but being kept comfortable. He's surrounded by family."
Mr Ford added: "Barry won’t give up easily. Barry has something marked on his calendar and that is to say he'll be back on stage before the end of the year.
"He's been travelling around the UK last year doing a one-man show, largely sitting in a chair and talking about the great characters he's created through the years. Whether that's a realistic goal for Barry, I don't know, but either way it's not over until it's over but I am told Barry's health has worsened in the last week."
Last week, journalist Andrew Neil revealed he had visited Mr Humphries in hospital.
Andrew, 73, tweeted on Saturday: "Visited legendary Barry Humphries in Sydney hospital during my Oz trip. As always he had me in stitches even though he’s been undergoing various treatments for months in hospital. I am in awe of his courage. And, of course, his humour, which is irrepressible, even in adversity."
Last month, the entertainer admitted he was "in agony" after breaking his hip.
The comedian told the Sydney Morning Herald: "It was the most ridiculous thing, like all domestic incidents are. I was reaching for a book, my foot got caught on a rug or something, and down I went."
