Creator of The Games was 68

Satirist John Clarke has died aged 68 while on a hiking trip.

The New Zealander, who lived in Australia since the late 1970s, was best known for his spoof interviews with Bryan Dawe, reminiscent of the officious exchanges originated by Britain's Bird and Fortune.

Their last sketch aired on the ABC last week in which Clarke played Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison in the build-up to the Budget.

Clarke first became known in the 1970s for playing the laconic farmer Fred Dagg, clad in gumboots and singlet and speaking of his seven sons, all named 'Trev'. Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits, was one of New Zealand's biggest selling records.

And in the 1980s he was part of The Gillies Report team, in which he would male straight-faced reports on the fictional sport of 'farnarkeling'.

He also created the acclaimed mockumentary The Games about the Sydney 2000 Olympics organising committee – which was to be at the centre of a plagiarism storm when the BBC produced a similar show about the London Olympics Twenty Twelve.

Australian comedians and political figures have been paying tribute.

Wil Anderson said: 'With all due respect to Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Stephen Colbert, John Clarke invented what they did and was still doing it better than anyone else in the world right until the end which sadly came way too soon.'

Greg Fleet tweeted: 'I am deeply saddened by the death of one of my heroes, the great, hilarious, Champion of Comedy John Clarke. We are much less without him.'

Wendy Harmer added: 'Dearest John Clarke who found me on stage at the Last :augh and put me on the telly in The Gillies Report. I, like so many, owe him so much.'

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English said; 'Sad to hear of the death of John Clarke, aka Fred Dagg. His humour captured the experience of life in NZ and Australia.'

And Australian Opposition leader Bill Shorten tweeted: 'So sad to hear of the passing of the brilliant John Clarke. The sharpest, driest wit on Aussie TV. 6:56 on Thursdays will never be the same.'

Clarke died from natural causes yesterday while in the Grampians National Park.

Published: 10 Apr 2017