Charles Kennedy's ready wit was never more obviously on display than during his many guest spots on Have I Got News For You - he appeared so often he was dubbed "Chatshow Charlie".

His 2008 appearance saw stand-in host Jeremy Clarkson introduce him as a man with a "glass half full approach to politics" - a reference to his public struggle with alcohol and a remark Charles Kennedy took with good grace.

The long-running show's executive producer said the former Liberal Democrat leader's honesty made him one of the programme's most popular signings.

"Charles Kennedy was one of the few politicians prepared to appear on Have I Got News For You and show himself as he really was," Richard Wilson said.

Mr Kennedy became the first serving party leader to join the panel of the TV show.

After having been a guest on the topical news quiz six times, he enjoyed a turn as host in 2002 following the sacking of Angus Deayton.

Image source, Liberal Democrats

A look back at the life of former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.

The Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Williams has said she had thought Charles Kennedy "might one day be one of the best prime ministers that the United Kingdom had ever had".

She described on BBC Radio 4's World At One how the party had struggled over Mr Kennedy's alcoholism.

"You could never be quite sure he would show up on a particular great occasion; you were always living with uncertainty, always wondering if he was going to be there.

"There were occasions where he didn't come at all or he came but he was not really in a fit state to deal with the issues that he was trying to talk about.

"But he was so wonderful when he did get there that you forgave almost everything. He was just a staggering human being."

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell appeared on the Daily Politics where he spoke about Charles Kennedy's reluctance to support the Tory/Lib Dem coalition.

He told presenter Jo Coburn: "He [Charles Kennedy] never went out his way to damage the coalition, he never went out of the way to damage Nick Clegg. He was a complete and absolute loyalist to the party.

"Parliament is the less for Charles' going. But his memory will be preserved in the Lib Dems for a long, long time to come."

BBC Radio 5 live

Journalist Iain MacDonald from Inverness employed Charles Kennedy while he was a student, to work on Highland Radio one summer.

He was so impressed with Mr Kennedy's work that he tried to invent a job specifically for him.

Image source, PA

He told BBC 5 Live: "I offered him a permanent job. There actually was no job, but he was so good I said to him I'm going to pay you out of the petty cash and we'll keep you on until there's a proper job. And he came back and said, 'No I have to go to the States'.

"Within that subsequent year he was adopted as a candidate to stand against a government minister -an energy minister at a time when North Sea oil was really providing jobs in this part of the world.

"And he won at 23 years old, was the youngest MP in parliament at that time since Pitt the younger, and the rest is history."

Eight - The number of general elections he stood in. Won seven, with the one loss coming last month to the SNP

32 - The number of years he was an MP

Three - The number of seats he represented - Ross, Cromarty & Skye (1983-1997), Ross, Skye & Inverness West (1997-2005) and Ross, Skye & Lochaber (2005-2015).

23 - The age he was when he became the youngest MP in the House of Commons in 1983

62 - The seats the Liberal Democrats won under his leadership at the 2005 General Election

Nine - The appearances he made on the Have I Got News For You programme. He hosted the show once in 2002.

Nick Robinson
Political editor

The only UK party leader to warn the country of the perils of invading Iraq when Labour and the Conservatives were uniting to support it.

The only Liberal Democrat MP who could not bring himself to vote to form a coalition with the Conservatives (Source - Alex Carlisle).

The man who took his party to its electoral peak.

Charles Kennedy left a mark on British politics but it also left its mark on him.

Read my thoughts on the legacy Charles Kennedy leaves behind.

Charles Kennedy spent 32 years a Member of Parliament. Take a look at his life here in pictures.

Before he was a politician, Charles Kennedy worked as a journalist with the BBC in the Highlands.

His boss at the time was Iain MacDonald.

He said: "He was adopted as a candidate for the SDP for the old Ross and Cromarty seat. I do remember a phone call from a still irrepressibly enthusiastic young Kennedy saying 'I think I've got a chance of winning this', proving that the old guys know absolutely nothing.

"I said 'Don't be silly Charlie, you will do very well but you won't win'. History tells us, he won'."

Caron Lindsay, editor of the Liberal Democrat Voice website, said the country will be shocked at the death of Charles Kennedy.

She added: "I remember on polling day I spent an hour ringing round people on Ross, Skye and Lochaber getting them out to vote. There was feeling of real love for this guy.

"As leader, to oppose a war is a big thing. It took a lot of courage to do that. I don't like the idea of world without him in it."

Alastair Campbell, who was a close friend of Charles Kennedy, has said there were concerns for the politician following the loss of his parliamentary seat.

It came just a few weeks after the death of Charles Kennedy's 88-year-old father Ian, in April.

Writing in his blog, external, Mr Campbell wrote: "We were all a bit worried about him after the election."

"On the night the exit poll made it clear his safe seat was gone, 'Is Charles OK?' became an inquiry of a very different nature. Representing the people of Ross, Skye and Lochaber meant so much to him."

Mr Campbell also revealed that after his election defeat, Mr Kennedy had sent him a text asking "Fancy starting a new Scottish left-leaning party? I joke not."

"He said in some ways he was glad to be out of it.

"I am not totally sure I believed him, but he had plenty of ideas of how he would spend his time, how he would make a living, and, most important, how he would continue to contribute to political ideas and political life."

Police were called out to Charles Kennedy's home in Fort William yesterday after being alerted by the ambulance service.

Image source, Andrew Milligan

It is understood that the politician's body was found in the house by a friend.

The cause of his death is not yet known but it is not thought by police to be suspicious.

"When politicians are often accused of being out of touch with the public and their electors, that charge could never be levelled against Charles Kennedy.

Image source, PA

"He had a capacity for communication which was the envy of all other MPs.

"He will be sadly missed, particularly by his family but by politics and the whole of the United Kingdom."

BBC Radio 5 live

"Charles gave his life to politics, but sadly I think politics took his life away from him", said Scottish broadcaster and sports commentator Hugh Dan MacLennan, who went to school with Charles Kennedy.

"I've been through all these elections with him from a studio. On the final election - what he called himself 'the night of the long skean dhus' - I saw his speech from a studio and I remember thinking at the time: 'Charles has lost his mother, he's lost his father, he's now lost his political seat. This is the end.'

"I really did think a circle had been squared that night, and for me personally I had a dread for the consequences."

Watch First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's tribute to the former MP for Skye, Ross and Lochaber.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Charles Kennedy was one of the most talented politicians of his generation and yet, somehow, he also managed to be universally liked across the political spectrum and indeed further afield".

"On a personal note, I was always grateful to Charles for his support and encouragement and cooperation.

"I think I carry the house with me in saying that Charles Kennedy was a principled, progressive and passionate politician and very importantly a proud parliamentarian in an age of pervasive cynicism about politics and politicians.

"Charles had that rare and uncanny capacity to cut through to large numbers of voters of all political persuasions and of none right across the country. He was doubtless assisted by his obvious sincerity, his relaxed style and his geniality.

"I know he was widely liked and respected in all parts of this house and he will be sadly missed. The house will want to join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Watch John Bercow's tribute here.

Charles Kennedy led his party to more seats than any other Liberal Democrat leader.

Desert Island Discs

Charles Kennedy appeared on Desert Island Discs in October 2003 with Sue Lawley. He talked about life in politics and chose tunes including one from his renowned fiddle playing father Ian.

The politician spoke about his rural upbringing and helping his crofter grandfather tend to the cows and hens.

Listen here...

The Speaker of the House of Commons has led tributes to Charles Kennedy in Westminster.

John Bercow told the House: "It was with deep sadness, that I must report to the house the death of the former member of Ross, Skye and Lochaber Charles Kennedy. Charles represented his constituency in its various forms in this house for almost 32 years.

"It is moreover a matter of record that he led his party, the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006, achieving the best parliamentary representation of his party in this house in living memory."

The Speaker said there would be a session after Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow for MPs to pay tribute.

Craig Anderson
BBC Scotland

There is huge shock and sadness here in the constituency that Charles represented for 32 years.

He was a boy who grew up on a croft - his father was a crofter - he went to Lochaber High School and when he became an MP he bought the cottage beside his parents croft house.

He was hugely proud of being somebody from the Highlands, who was representing his Highland constituency.

And his pride was reflected in people here who voted for him, and people who didn't vote for him but believed that he was representing them in Westminster.