How the late Barry Humphries will be remembered on opening night of Melbourne Comedy Festival

The late Barry Humphries will receive “a fitting tribute” at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, after it stripped his name from an award in 2019 over transgender comments he had made a year earlier.

Australian entertainment legend Barry Humphries will be remembered with a special video package acknowledging his tremendous career and influence at opening night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

The short package, put together by the festival, will be screened at the Palais Theatre during the Opening Night All Stars Supershow on Wednesday.

Barry Humphries will be remembered on opening night of the festival.

Humphries as Dame Edna Everage. Picture: David Caird

While not an official tribute, it is a recognition of Humphries, who died in Sydney in April 2023, by the festival.

It is understood festival heads have quietly been in contact with members of Humphries’ family and inner circle for some months and they are aware of the short, respectful celebration of his life that will be shown.

Humphries started his extraordinary career in Melbourne and was an early supporter of the festival.

His support helped raise the profile of the festival nationally and internationally.

In 2019 the festival stripped his name from its biggest award, The Barry Award, after uproar over comments Humphries made about transgender people in a 2018 interview.

The award was renamed the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award. Humphries was greatly upset and hurt by the festival’s decision.

Following the passing of the comedic genius, the festival released a statement promising an acknowledgment of Humphries in 2024.

“From today we regroup and start to plan a fitting tribute to his comic genius and leading role in creating a global platform for Australian comedy,” the statement released in April 2023 read.

The video is a small step. Perhaps further acknowledgment of his legacy will come in future years.