"The diminutive Charlie Drake, who had a fine line in slapstick and pathos and a catch-cry of "Hello my darlings", featured in this BBC comedy series (which followed his successful 1959 - 1960 Charlie Drake program).
The Charlie Drake Show was scripted by Drake and Richard Waring, and produced by Ronald Marsh. It featured slapstick-style sketches and situations which brought out the pathos and genius of this much underrated comedian.
Meanwhile on ITV, Charlie featured in a comedy-music series (also called The Charlie Drake Show) in 1963 under producer Colin Clews with scripts by Drake and Lewis Schwarz. A very young Olivia Hussey also appeared in some of the routines.
Drake also starred in The Worker from 1965 - 1970 and then in the early 70's had a show called Slapstick and Old Lace in which he involved viewers in singalongs and madcap sketches in a Vaudeville style (7 x 30 minute episodes).
Charlie Drake was no stranger to accidents, but his narrowest escape was in the first of a new series entitled Bingo Madness. The plot called for Drake to be hurled through a bookcase by two villains, feign unconsciousness, fall to the floor and then be picked up and thrown out of a window.
The stunt nearly ended in tragedy as Drake really was knocked unconscious when he came through the bookcase. It was a live show and the actors, not realize anything was amiss, carried on, picking him up and bundling him through the window. Drake's head crashed against a stage weight.
After the initial applause, there was a hush as everyone realized something was wrong. The director blacked out the screen as millions of people witnessed what could have been the death of Charlie Drake. He lay in a coma for days, and the rest of the series was cancelled."
Charlie also had a successful recording career throughout the 50's and 60's- two of his biggest hits being "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" and "Please Mr Custer".
Discover more about Charlie Drake HERE.
Charlie Drake - I've Lost The End Of My Yodel
Charlie Drake - Starkle Starkle Little Twink
Charlie Drake - Don't Trim My Wick
Charlie Drake - Splish Splash
Charlie Drake - Naughty
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2 comments:
Hello,
Would it be possible to republish the information on Charlie Drake, in particular regarding his song "Naughty". If possible, I would like the lyrics.
Thank you very much in advance.
Kind regards,
J.M. Tabor
I'm not sure about the lyrics or where you might find them but I can uplaod "naughty" and some other charlie drake songs. I have just purchased a great book by Eric Sykes of His Comedy Heroes and it has some terrific photos in it of Charlie and lots of other folk too. It will be good excuse to uplaod something again. It may take me a few days so be patient.
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