The RIP Thread

Shame,he was the face of magic in the mid to late 80's ! R.I.P.

 

Lady P
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35818530

 

Also today, Cliff Mitchelmore and Frank Sinatra Jr have passed away.

Cliff was a TV stalwart of the seventies and eighties, hosting travel, quiz, and discussion shows. And many of us knew Frank Jr, not just because of his dad, but also through his appearances on Family Guy.

RIP guys...

 

RIP Paul Daniels

Back in the early nineties I was working in Belize (Central America) and we had a small key we used to go to for weekends to do some snorkling, diving and wind-surfing - we were the only people on the island, about 12 of us, and Paul Daniels visited the mainland to carry out some entertainment for the military personnel stationed at the main camp - we invited him out to our island for the night, so both him and Debbie McGhee came out to visit us. We sat at a table with him, drinking rum cocktails and cold beers, whilst he regaled us with stories of his time in the RAF, how he got involved with magic, and about the showbiz life, all the time performing amazing close up magic tricks - I seem to remember us still at that table until about 4am - totally fascinating, and a memory that I have treasured for over 25 years.

He was a truly nice man, and although ridiculed at some times over the years, he took it all with grace, and wasn't afraid to take the piss out of himself.

RIP Paul Daniels

 

Hope the lovely Debbie McGee's OK!

 

Dear oh Dear.......there are times when it's best to say/type nothing.......

 

Seem to recall in the late 80's early 90's Paul Daniels taught himself the French Language by using object association......he did a book and tape on the subject and was able to perform his show in full in France speaking fluent French.......he had a very sharp brain......

 

Cliff Michelmore was an ever present part of my upbringing watching BBC with a witty sense of humour I recall:-

Obituary: Cliff Michelmore

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The consummate professional

With his avuncular manner and trademark spectacles, Cliff Michelmore was one of the best-known presenters on British television.

His calm and unflappable style became his hallmark, particularly during the decade when he fronted the BBC TV current affairs programme, Tonight.

He was a natural choice to handle big, set-piece events such as the BBC's coverage of a general election.

And he presided over moments of live drama, notably the assassination of President Kennedy and the return of the damaged Apollo 13.

Arthur Clifford Michelmore was born on 11 December 1919 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

He never really lost touch with his birthplace, always proudly describing himself as an island person.

He was the youngest of six children and, following the death of his father when he was just three, he was brought up on a local farm by his older sister and her husband

Faux accent
He rejected the opportunity to become a farmer, something he later said he regretted.

I don't know what's going on. And it seems no-one else does either."
Cliff Michelmore after an on-air glitch
I'm a bit of a workaholic," he said. "And you have to be something of a workaholic to work on a farm."

Instead he joined the RAF and was commissioned during World War Two before joining the British Forces Network in 1947 as Deputy Director.

He'd written scripts previously for the BFN but his arrival to run the RAF element of the station sparked a real interest in broadcasting.

He took on a variety of on-air roles including adopting a faux West Country accent to present a weekly gardening feature.

He also took part in radio dramas, once playing Little John to Nigel Davenport's Robin Hood in a play that also featured Brian Forbes and Roger Moore.

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Love blossomed behind the Family Favourites microphone

Michelmore achieved his big break when he was asked to fill in at the Hamburg end of Two-Way Family Favourites.

The programme went out on Sunday lunchtime on BBC radio and linked members of British forces serving round the world with their families at home

It was fortunate both for his public and his personal life. After striking up a warm on-air relationship with the London anchor, Jean Metcalfe, he eventually married her.

Technical issues
After working as a freelance reporter for the BBC in the South West of England he moved into children's television, presenting the fortnightly Saturday programme Telescope, and also did sports commentary.

In 1955 he moved into current affairs, presenting the BBC TV programme Highlight.

The programme quickly gained a reputation for its uncompromising interview style, something of a departure from the much more restrained way such things were usually done at the time.

In 1957, the BBC launched a new early evening current affairs programme and Michelmore moved over to present it.

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The Tonight programme broke new ground

The programme blended serious issues with more quirky human features, and also made the names of reporters such as Alan Whicker, Derek Hart, Fyfe Robertson and Magnus Magnusson.

Tonight broke new ground in television news programmes. Studio equipment appeared in shot and Michelmore often presented items while perched on the edge of his desk.

It was a far cry from the formality that was the trademark of news presentation in the 1950s, and Tonight regularly attracted audiences of more than eight million.

His laidback style meant he effortlessly dealt with the technical problems that were part and parcel of a live news programme at the time.

On one memorable occasion he introduced a news item only for nothing to appear on the screen. Michelmore was unfazed.

Never in my life have I seen anything like this. I hope I shall never see anything like it again
Cliff Michelmore on Aberfan
"Well, we were supposed to be showing you a piece of film now, but it's not there," he said. I don't know what's going on. And it seems no-one else does either."

Aberfan
He later admitted that, beneath the calm exterior, his stomach was churning over during these moments of technical drama.

Tonight was voted best factual programme by the Guild of Television Producers and Directors Television Awards (now the Baftas) in both 1957 and 1958.

He was live on air when the news came through of the assassination of President John F Kennedy on 22 November 1963.

With confusion in the gallery as to what had happened he was asked to fill. "It was certainly a moment that I will remember for ever."

After Tonight ended in 1965, he went on to present its successor programme, 24 Hours.

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He was on air when Kennedy was assassinated

His most poignant moment came when he was sent to cover the 1966 disaster at the Welsh village of Aberfan, where a slagheap had collapsed on to a junior school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

With rescuers still frantically digging through the rubble behind him, Michelmore struggled to keep his composure as he began his report to camera.

"I don't know how to begin," he said "Never in my life have I seen anything like this. I hope I shall never see anything like it again."

Holiday
In 1967, he was chosen to front the UK segment of Our World, an ambitious live programme that used the newly emerging satellite broadcast technology to link television broadcasts from around the world.

The BBC contribution featured the Beatles in a live performance of All You Need Is Love.

Michelmore also fronted the BBC's coverage of the Apollo space missions, including the first Moon landing in 1969 and the heart-stopping return of the damaged Apollo 13 in April 1970.

In 1969, he quizzed Prince Charles in the heir to the throne's first TV interview.

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The unflappable presenter of election results

And he was a natural choice to be the calm front of BBC general election results programmes.

He also appeared on the 1971 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, taking part with other presenters in a top hat and tails dance routine.

He went on to present the Holiday programme, in which reporters visited various holiday destinations and compiled pieces on the attractions they found there.

There was some criticism at the time that many of the destinations featured were out of the price range of the majority of the programme's viewers.

The unflappable presenter was still broadcasting on radio in his 80s.

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With John Carter and Norma Shepherd on Holiday

He also fronted a 2007 BBC Parliament programme looking back on the 1967 devaluation of the pound, a story he had covered at the time.

Despite his long service with the BBC he never had a contract and remained a freelance throughout his career with the Corporation.

"Every day since I joined in 1950," he later said. "I've felt insecure. If you are a freelance someone can come up at any time and take your living away; just like that."

The writer and broadcaster Antony Jay, who was one of the editors of Tonight, paid this tribute on Michelmore's 90th birthday:

"There was no pretence, no feeling of 'performance' about him, in spite of the consummate professional and technical skill he brought to the programme. He was just Cliff, take him or leave him. And of course the audience took him, in their millions."

Many of those millions will recall Michelmore's famous sign-off: "The next Tonight will be tomorrow night - goodnight."

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-12692780

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35746477

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35835777

 

cryuffe dies aged 68 after a triple by pass that couldnt save him rest in peace magical man

 

Who's Cryuffe?

 

Ronnie Corbett RIP

 

Just seen this on the news,although he wasn't one of my favourites,he became part of my Saturday nights growing up.Alongside the genius who was Ronnie Barker,he brought a lot of laughter to our drab days ! R.I.P. wee man.

 

Bloody hell. TBH i thought he was already dead. I was getting mixed up with Ronnie Barker

 

RIP Indeed.

Rob Brydon has lost half his act.

 

In a tribute to the 'Four Candles' sketch, Ronnie and Harry Enfield did this

a few years ago. Not as good as the original

 

I was only thinking of him this morning on the drive to work. Whilst that's rather spooky, it's a real shame and a great loss.

He always appeared to be overshadowed a little by the utter genius of Ronnie Barker, but he was a very gifted comic in his own right, and deserves the plaudits he will no doubt receive.

RIP Ronnie

 

I have always liked this one.