Linda Smith RIP

"People knock Asbos, but you have to bear in mind they're the only qualification some of these kids are ever going to get".

"David Mellor, the thinking woman's fat, ugly bastard. The last woman to run her fingers through his hair was the nit nurse".

"Laughter is the best medicine, but that's not true if you've got facial injuries".

We're going to miss Linda Smith, aren't we? An institution on an institution (Radio 4). Voted the Wittiest Living Person in 2002. Only 48 years old. Forty-fucking-eight.

Her quickwittedness is encapsulated in the following response to a heckle when performing stand-up:

Student: "Show us yer tits!"

Smith: "Ah, is it time for a breast-feed?"

Mark Steel's obituary in the Independent

Jeremy Hardy's obituary in the Guardian

Tributes in the Guardian

(Thanks to Jonathan for the links.)