FRANKIE Howerd s former partner has married the couple's 'adoptive' son.

FRANKIE Howerd's former partner has married the couple's 'adoptive' son.

The comedian's partner Dennis Heymer married Chris Byrne, despite a 40-year age gap.

The marriage means the duo have financial security for Frankie's estate, which is estimated to be worth about �10million.

Chris says the marriage is one of 'understanding, caring and compassion' and not a romantic alliance.

It means Chris, who met Frankie and Dennis when he was 17, will inherit the �800,000 four-bedroom house in Cross near Axbridge when his 'husband' Dennis dies.

Chris will also own the rights to Frankie's diaries, monies from repeats of the films he starred in such as Up Pompeii, personal documents and the house interiors.

Chris, aged 42, became the carer for Dennis, now 82, when he was a teen. Frankie and Dennis took him under their wing in London and then brought him to live in Somerset.

Chris said: "We married in December 2005 and had about 60 friends at the ceremony.

"There are thousands of people who live in rural areas like ours who don't want to come out and tell people they are gay.

"Some people are frightened of what the neighbours will think, but stuff like that doesn't bother me.

"Dennis couldn't admit he was Frankie's live-in lover until after he died. "Unfortunately there will always be ignorant people around."

Chris added that the marriage was to protect both himself and Dennis when one of them dies. The marriage means Chris will be able to remain living in the house if Dennis dies first and vice versa.

Preparing for the inevitable, Chris has had an Egyptian-style tomb built for Dennis' burial. It is almost identical to Tutankhamun's, the famous pharaoh, and includes gold paint and is lined with lead.

He intends to bury Dennis on top of Frankie's coffin in Weare.