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Rod Hull and Emu

From the archives: 1983 Children’s Royal Variety Performance 150 150 mhamer

From the archives: 1983 Children’s Royal Variety Performance

Hi folks editing footage, and here's my little contribution to the 3rd Children's Royal Variety Show, (this idea was the creation of Rod Hull), at the end, how many artistes do you know? Alongside the great advocate of Variety, David Bell #keepvarietyalive

The third Children’s Royal Variety Performance featured many top entertainers, including our very own Jimmy Cricket.

Jimmy has been reliving the star-studded show from nearly 40 years ago by making his own performance available online.

He posted on social media: “Hi folks we’re editing some footage and here’s my little contribution which was recorded at the 3rd Children’s Royal Variety Performance.

“This idea was the creation of Speciality Act Rod Hull, which raised a lot of money for the NSPCC over the 13 years.

This one was staged by LWT – can you name all the Variety Artistes at the end of the clip in the line-up?

“Alongside the great advocate of Televised Variety, the sadly missed David Bell #keepvarietyalive”

Also among the performers in March 1983 were Russ Abbot, Kim Wilde, Jeremy Beadle, Stu Francis, Keith Chegwin, Dustin Gee and Maggie Philbin.

Princess Margaret was the royal guest.

The replies to Jimmy’s post included:

Stewart: I remember Dustin Gee doing a gig at Haslingden Cricket Club many years ago.

Gildas: Well worth watching , would love to see the full show (see below).

Gary: Love it

Michelle: Brilliant

Simon: Brilliant and still funny!

Pete: That’s when variety was at its best. Lovely to see.

Rod: Jimmy Cricket you are brill. Total pro.

Paul: Really fab Jimmy.

Dom: Love it Jimmy. Well done pal.

Watch Jimmy’s performance below.

Watch the full show here

Also read: ‘Great privilege’ to be in 1984 Royal Variety Show

 

Sharing some nostalgia on my great friend Phyllis 150 150 mhamer

Sharing some nostalgia on my great friend Phyllis

Sharing some nostalgia here with my great friend and personal manager Phylis Rounce who was with me when Variety was King on Television and out there with live performance!

Jimmy Cricket has been reminiscing on social media with some photographs relating to theatrical agent Phyllis Rounce.

In addition to managing Jimmy, Phyllis also looked after the careers of other stars such as Rod Hull and Emu, and Tony Hancock.

Hull was a comedian, best known as a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet modelled on the Australian flightless emu bird.

Hancock was a high-profile comedian and actor during the 1950s and early 1960s, enjoying major success with his BBC series Hancock’s Half Hour, first broadcast on radio and then on television.

Famous entertainer Jimmy posted the pictures above recently, adding: “Sharing some nostalgia here with my great friend and personal manager Phyllis Rounce who was with me when Variety was King on Television and out there with live performance!”

Speaking in his monthly column in the Lancashire Evening Post last summer, Jimmy said that Phyllis – known as Phil to her friends – was an “exceptional manager who went the extra mile for her artistes”.

He described her as “one of the all-time great theatrical agents in the world of showbusiness”.

Jimmy’s LEP column: My tribute to a great agent 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s LEP column: My tribute to a great agent

Jimmy Cricket's June column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has been paying tribute to “one of the all-time great theatrical agents” in his latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post.

The 72-year-old comedian recalls the career of Phyllis Rounce, who also managed the likes of Rod Hull and Emu, and Tony Hancock.

Rod Hull was a comedian, best known as a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet modelled on the Australian flightless emu bird.

Hancock was a high-profile comedian and actor during the 1950s and early 1960s, enjoying major success with his BBC series Hancock’s Half Hour, first broadcast on radio and then on television.

Jimmy said Phyllis – who was known as Phil to her friends – was an “exceptional manager who went the extra mile for her artistes”.

He added that she “had a love affair with showbusiness that started during the Second World War.

“She realised the part entertainment could play in boosting soldiers’ morale and keeping their spirits up on the way to the front.

“How lucky was I to be guided by a lady with such a caring nature and such creative vision.”

On social media channel Twitter, Jimmy said the June column in the Preston-based LEP was his “dedication and tribute to one of the all-time great theatrical agents in the world of showbusiness”.