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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Last of the slap stick Comedians Charlie Drake has died at the age 81.

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Aww, bless him Sad

I'm sorry to hear that.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I remember Charlie Drake very well, and there was another character in his shows, Mr Pugh, can't remember that actor's name.

Charlie had a catch phrase, and a hit pop record, 'Hello My Darling'

John W

marietta honeybun · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 915 Location: Holland

That's sad news. I remember him from the early 50's when he appeared on BBC tv in a children's programme called "Mick and Montmorency".
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Thanks numbersix,

I didn't bother googling but yes Henry McGee of Benny Hill shows, he was also an occasional on other shows with Frankie Howerd and Ain't Half Hot Mum and Carry On films.

Charlie Drake's first series was black and white maybe 1960ish, the second one might have been colour but don't think I saw much of that one.

John W

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Most of Charlie's TV comedy series passed before we got a set, so I missed out, but I do remember the odd slapstick sketch on the Royal Variety Shows (he did 15 of them, apparently).

His name has come up two or three times fairly recently on the old BBC Music boards, usually when discussing comedy, novelty or rare records. Produced by George Martin, he had a few hits in the early 60s - his catchphrase Hello My Darlings, coupled with a cover of Bobby Darin's Splish Splash, childrens' favourites Mr Custer and My Boomerang Won't Come Back, and an odd version of Volare.

EMI released a Best of... CD a couple of years ago; it's currently deleted, but I'm sure they'll reissue it in the New Year. Most of the rest of the 24 tracks are variations on the hits, and comedy fillers, but there is one standout track which demonstrates a sharper, surreal, almost subversive streak to his sense of humour, and it's way ahead of his time as well. Entitled Drakes Progress (after the title of one of his TV series) it's him in his guise as The Worker (an electrician) who turns up to do a job at No 9 Downing Street. With a classical tune, the identity of which escapes me for the moment, tinkling in the background, we hear him muttering and musing while he's wiring something up. There are references to the "strange usurpent" in the building, a previous job in Pakistan, heavy water and fallout, the "Once more unto the breach..." quotation from Henry V, and then, when he's finished he presses a button and there's a huge explosion, followed by the punchline "Ma chandelle est morte".

Almost worthy of Python.
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iknewdavidjacobsmum · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 336

My Brother got a copy of "My boomerang won't come back" when he was trying to dump his Australian girlfriend. Every time she came to the house he would play it. I knew the words by heart. Charlie was more than a comedian to us.

SantaFefan · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject:

I remember watching one of his shows on tv which was live, and he knocked himself out crashing through a shelf unit! the rest of the cast didn't know what to do when Charlie didn't get up off the floor!

Did he also record "Who puts the lighty on?" or was that somebody else! Rolling Eyes

pickle · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:32 pm Post subject: Charlie Drake

Tommy Steele recorded 'Who Put The Lighty On?'

I've asked on the 6 Music messageboards if Stuart Maconie will play Drake's 'You Never Know' on 'The Freak Zone', as it was a composition by Peter Gabriel and Martin Hall that Drake did for Charisma Records, before Gabriel released his first solo album.
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I know you've mentioned "You Never Know" before, but there's currently no trace of it anywhere in any of the listings when searching on the net. Unless the Beeb do keep a copy of absolutely everything, you may have to hunt the record sales and send him a copy to play.
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