Close friends remember silver screen legend Bert Newton

Australian TV star Bert Newton has been remembered as a true legend and an icon of the silver screen.

"We have lost the greatest television performer Australia has ever produced," veteran TV announcer Pete Smith told A Current Affair.

Smith remembers Newton as one of his dearest friends.

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"In all those years, Bert Newton, never said a bad word about anybody - and he'd met 'em all," Smith said.

There's no doubt Newton made an incredible impact on the industry throughout his 83 years, hosting the Logies 20 times and taking home the Gold Logie four times.

"Bert turned the Logies into … they've never been the same without him, it was his show," Newton's close friend and colleague, John Michael-Howson, said.

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"He was probably the one Aussie TV star that could have been a hit in America."

An infamous exchange at the Logies in 1978 between Newton and boxer Muhammad Ali went down in history, after a slip of the tongue created an awkward public encounter.

"Bert honestly didn't know what he'd said," Mr Michael-Howson said.

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"It turned into a memorable moment of television and Muhammad Ali took it in good humour and was wonderful."

Newton will be honoured with a State Funeral.

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