‘Trailblazing’ comedienne Joan Rivers passed away in New York overnight at the age of 81, following surgery complications.

Tributes from around the world have poured in for the award-winning presenter, with comedians like Ricky Gervais calling her “fearless” and “truly one of a kind”.

Her standup performances, like this one on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, have been hailed as ‘opening up the arena for women in comedy’.