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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment_a...ts/10147436.stm

 

Ventriloquist Ray Alan dies at 79

Source: bbc.co.uk

 

Ray Alan performed with Laurel and Hardy early in his career Ventriloquist Ray Alan has died suddenly at the age of 79, his agent has announced.

 

The showman was known for his upper class puppet Lord Charles, who usually appeared to be drunk.

 

Alan was a television regular from the 1950s to the 1980s, appearing on shows including long-running BBC variety serial The Good Old Days.

 

In later years he was an entertainer on QE2 cruises, taking a break from showbusiness in 2008 due to ill health.

 

Old age had also made it increasingly difficult for him to control his puppet.

 

'Tremendously well-liked'

 

Alan - always accompanied by Lord Charles - was often a guest on TV shows including Celebrity Squares, Give Us A Clue and 3-2-1.

 

He clocked up the most appearances on The Good Old Days, where he and Lord Charles made their TV debut.

 

Alan began his career as a teenager, with his ventriloquism act developing from pretending there were voices coming from a box on stage.

 

Lord Charles' character was based on a man he saw at a cabaret show, with his face modelled on Stan Laurel.

 

Ray Alan was a regular on The Good Old Days In 1954 he worked with Laurel and Hardy after fellow ventriloquist Harry Worth was forced to pull out of a show.

 

His puppet became famous for his catchphrase "you silly arse" and having an eye for glamorous women.

 

His agent Peter Pritchard, who worked with him for 30 years, said: "Technically he was regarded as Britain's top ventriloquist. You couldn't see his mouth moving.

 

"He was tremendously well-liked in the business and he had been in the entertainment business all his life," he added.

 

Speaking to the BBC in 2006, Alan said of his puppet sidekick: "Oh, no, I'm not one of those ventriloquists who thinks he's real.

 

"When I finish my work I put it back in the tool box and I don't take it out again until the next job."

 

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Poor old Ray, I used to enjoy watching him when I was very young and there seemed to be ventriloquists everywhere.

 

I hear Lord Charles is 'speechless' at his death.

.

 

I hear Lord Charles is 'speechless' at his death.

ooooo... lol.. thats pretty black!

 

never rated ventrilaquists much, but i liked ray allens gentle manner.

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What about Tich and Quackers?

 

Not forgetting Ali Cat, from the Magic Circle kids show (70s ITV)

  • 4 weeks later...

R.I.P Ray

 

In the 80s he hosted the Channel 4 travel quiz show - Where In The World

Edited by euro music

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