Des O’Connor RIP: I was thrilled to be on his TV chat show
Des O’Connor’s death at the age of 88 got Jimmy Cricket recalling his fond memories of the famous entertainer.
The London-born comedian hosted his own prime-time TV shows for more than 45 years.
He was also a successful singer.
The popular and long-running Countdown was among the shows he presented.
He was very good friends with Morecambe and Wise.
In addition to performing all over the world, he appeared in hundreds of shows at the London Palladium.
He hosted The Des O’Connor Show, which ran on ITV from 1963 to 1971.
‘Destined for stardom’
In 1977 he began hosting Des O’Connor Tonight, which started on BBC Two before moving to ITV, on which channel it finished in 2002.
He was made a CBE for his services to entertainment and broadcasting in the 2008 birthday honours.
Jimmy reminisced: “From the moment I saw Des O’Connor playing Buttons in Panto @gohbelfast over 60 years ago, I knew he was destined for stardom!
“I was thrilled to have appeared alongside him on his TV Chat Show in the 80s!
“R.I.P. Des #Legend.”
Obituary on the BBC website: From Butlin’s to chat show king
Also read: Bruce Forsyth: Our living room friends for decades