Sir Norman Wisdom was a big name in Albania. The diminutive actor became a national institution in the European country by accident, during the brutal communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.

His films, like A Stitch in Time and Trouble in Store, were the only Western movies allowed to be broadcast at the time.

Stalinist ruler Hoxha deemed that Sir Norman’s films, in which his alter-ego Pitkin got the better of his bosses, were a Communist parable on class war.

Albanians just found Sir Norman’s brand of slapstick comedy hilarious.

The country’s love affair with the British comic continued long after the fall of Mr Hoxha.

In 1995, the British performer visited the Post-Stalinist country and to his immense surprise was greeted by hundreds of fans.

They included the then leader of the country, Sali Berisha.

A more recent visit happened to coincide with a trip to the country by the England football team.

Sir Norman visited the stadium where England were due to play Albania, and found his popularity, at the age of 86, had eclipsed that of David Beckham, who was training at the pitch at the same time.

Sir Norman’s routine, which included his trademark move of tripping himself up, went down a storm with spectators at the stadium.

He joked at the time: “You see, I’m still big over here. Not anywhere else, but over here.

“I don’t know why I’m so popular here. They must be raving mad.”

He put his appeal in Albania down to an absence of sex, violence and crime in his films.

The country was plunged into mourning when it was announced that the actor would be retiring.

Sir Norman is also well known for his charity work in Albania, which included supporting and visiting orphanages.