The world's media was thrown into confusion on Friday after a US congressman reported, wrongly, that the legendary entertainer had died at the age of 95.

Arizona Republican Bob Stump stunned the House of Representatives in Washington when he told colleagues: "It is with great sadness I announce that Bob Hope has died."

Did you hear the one about the congressman...

Within seconds some of the world's media operations were cranking into operation to pay tribute to the man loved by millions.

But Bob Hope's daughter, Linda, immediately contacted news agencies to deny the report, saying her British-born father was sitting happily at home in Pasadena, California.

She said: "It's not true, he's happily having his breakfast. I don't know where this story has come from.

A spokesman for the entertainer's company, Hope Enterprises, added: "It seems to have started on the floor of Congress, which explains why they've got it wrong.

"He's alive and well."