Ray Alan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
VisualWikitext
→Entertainment career: Remove unsourced claim.
 
imported>GreenC bot
 
Line 19: Line 19:


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born Raymond Alan Whyberd in [[Greenwich]], London, Alan was educated at Morden Terrace School, [[Lewisham]].<ref name = Young>{{cite ODNB|id=102467|last = Young|first = Cy|year = 2014|title = Alan, Ray [real name Raymond Alan Whyberd] (1930–2010), ventriloquist, writer, and television presenter}}</ref><ref name=who>''Who's Who on Television'' (1982), ITV Books, Michael Joseph, p.6, {{ISBN|0-900727-96-9}}</ref> He was introduced to the world of entertainment at a young age, entering a talent contest at the age of five at his local [[Gaumont-British|Gaumont cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ray-alan-ventriloquist-famous-for-his-partnerships-with-lord-charles-tich-and-quackers-1982671.html|title=Ray Alan: Ventriloquist famous for his partnerships with Lord Charles,|date=25 May 2010|website=The Independent}}</ref>
Born Raymond Alan Whyberd in [[Greenwich]], London, Alan was educated at Morden Terrace School, [[Lewisham]].<ref name = Young>{{cite ODNB|id=102467|last = Young|first = Cy|year = 2014|title = Alan, Ray [real name Raymond Alan Whyberd] (1930–2010), ventriloquist, writer, and television presenter}}</ref><ref name=who>''Who's Who on Television'' (1982), ITV Books, Michael Joseph, p.6, {{ISBN|0-900727-96-9}}</ref> He was introduced to the world of entertainment at a young age, entering a talent contest at the age of five at his local [[Gaumont-British|Gaumont cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ray-alan-ventriloquist-famous-for-his-partnerships-with-lord-charles-tich-and-quackers-1982671.html|title=Ray Alan: Ventriloquist famous for his partnerships with Lord Charles|date=25 May 2010|website=The Independent}}</ref>


==Entertainment career==
==Entertainment career==
Aged 13, Alan became a [[call boy (theatre)|call-boy]] at the Hippodrome Theatre in [[Lewisham]], where he started to do magic sets on stage between acts. He then started to entertain private functions, introducing ventriloquism into his act, along with playing the [[ukulele]].<ref name = Young/> He soon left school to begin performing full-time.<ref name = Young/>
Aged 13, Alan became a [[call boy (theatre)|call-boy]] at the Hippodrome Theatre in [[Lewisham]], where he started to do magic sets on stage between acts. He then started to entertain private functions, introducing ventriloquism into his act, along with playing the [[ukulele]].<ref name = Young/> He soon left school to begin performing full-time.<ref name = Young/>


Alan toured in [[cabaret]] all over the world and performed once with [[Laurel and Hardy]] in 1954.<ref name=Lewis/> Laurel had provided inspiration for the look of Alan's most famous creation, Lord Charles,<ref name="Lewis">{{Cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/10/09/ray_alan_interview_feature.shtml |title=Read his lips! There's no place like "A" home! |last=Lewis |first=Katy |date=9 October 2006 |work=Entertainment |access-date=11 October 2007 |publisher=BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks}}</ref> who first appeared at a charity show in [[Wormwood Scrubs Prison]], London.<ref name=who/>
Alan toured in [[cabaret]] all over the world and performed once with [[Laurel and Hardy]] in 1954.<ref name=Lewis/> Laurel had provided inspiration for the look of Alan's most famous creation, Lord Charles,<ref name="Lewis">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/10/09/ray_alan_interview_feature.shtml |title=Read his lips! There's no place like "A" home! |last=Lewis |first=Katy |date=9 October 2006 |work=Entertainment |access-date=11 October 2007 |publisher=BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks}}</ref> who first appeared at a charity show in [[Wormwood Scrubs Prison]], London.<ref name=who/>


Alan made his television debut with Lord Charles on the [[BBC]] programme ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1960s<ref name= Barker/> and the pair regularly re-appeared on the programme. In the 1960s he also appeared on a children's programme ''Tich and Quackers'' with Tich, a small boy, and his pet duck Quackers. He created the puppet character ''Ali Cat'' for the [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]] series ''Magic Circle'' (1977). He was also the presenter for two years of the BBC show ''Ice Show''. In 1985 he was a special guest for [[Bob Hope]]'s birthday show at London's [[Lyric Theatre (London)|Lyric Theatre]]. In 1986 he presented a show on Channel 4 on ventriloquism, called ''A Gottle of Geer'', which he later adapted into a book.<ref name = Young/>
Alan made his television debut with Lord Charles on the [[BBC]] programme ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1960s<ref name= Barker/> and the pair regularly re-appeared on the programme. In the 1960s he also appeared on a children's programme ''Tich and Quackers'' with Tich, a small boy, and his pet duck Quackers. He created the puppet character ''Ali Cat'' for the [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]] series ''Magic Circle'' (1977). He was also the presenter for two years of the BBC show ''Ice Show''. In 1985 he was a special guest for [[Bob Hope]]'s birthday show at London's [[Lyric Theatre (London)|Lyric Theatre]]. In 1986 he presented a show on Channel 4 on ventriloquism, called ''A Gottle of Geer'', which he later adapted into a book.<ref name = Young/>
Line 60: Line 60:
* ''The Impressionists'', [[BBC Radio 2]] (guest 1974–75; host 1980–88)<ref name="Barker">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/may/24/ray-alan-obituary |title=Ray Alan obituary |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=2010-05-24 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2019-10-18 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* ''The Impressionists'', [[BBC Radio 2]] (guest 1974–75; host 1980–88)<ref name="Barker">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/may/24/ray-alan-obituary |title=Ray Alan obituary |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=2010-05-24 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2019-10-18 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*''[[Just a Minute]]'', [[BBC Radio 4]] (four appearances late 1970s)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://just-a-minute.info/eps.html|title = Just a Minute Episode List|access-date = 14 July 2023}}</ref>
*''[[Just a Minute]]'', [[BBC Radio 4]] (four appearances late 1970s)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://just-a-minute.info/eps.html|title = Just a Minute Episode List|access-date = 14 July 2023}}</ref>
* ''[[The News Huddlines]]'', BBC Radio 4 (presenter for one show, 29 October 1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://binsearch.info/browse.php?bg=alt.binaries.sounds.radio.bbc.highspeed&s=92961707&all=1&server=2|title=Browse newsgroup alt.binaries.sounds.radio.bbc.highspeed|website=binsearch.info}}</ref>
* ''[[The News Huddlines]]'', BBC Radio 4 (presenter for one show, 29 October 1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://binsearch.info/browse.php?bg=alt.binaries.sounds.radio.bbc.highspeed&s=92961707&all=1&server=2|title=Browse newsgroup alt.binaries.sounds.radio.bbc.highspeed|website=binsearch.info}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 12:35, 15 September 2025

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "redirect hatnote". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Raymond Alan Whyberd (18 September 1930 – 24 May 2010) was an English ventriloquist, television entertainer, and writer. His career spanned over half a century, though he was most popular from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was associated primarily with the dummies Lord Charles and Ali Kat and later with the puppets Tich and Quackers.

Early life

Born Raymond Alan Whyberd in Greenwich, London, Alan was educated at Morden Terrace School, Lewisham.[1][2] He was introduced to the world of entertainment at a young age, entering a talent contest at the age of five at his local Gaumont cinema.[3]

Entertainment career

Aged 13, Alan became a call-boy at the Hippodrome Theatre in Lewisham, where he started to do magic sets on stage between acts. He then started to entertain private functions, introducing ventriloquism into his act, along with playing the ukulele.[1] He soon left school to begin performing full-time.[1]

Alan toured in cabaret all over the world and performed once with Laurel and Hardy in 1954.[4] Laurel had provided inspiration for the look of Alan's most famous creation, Lord Charles,[4] who first appeared at a charity show in Wormwood Scrubs Prison, London.[2]

Alan made his television debut with Lord Charles on the BBC programme The Good Old Days in the 1960s[5] and the pair regularly re-appeared on the programme. In the 1960s he also appeared on a children's programme Tich and Quackers with Tich, a small boy, and his pet duck Quackers. He created the puppet character Ali Cat for the HTV series Magic Circle (1977). He was also the presenter for two years of the BBC show Ice Show. In 1985 he was a special guest for Bob Hope's birthday show at London's Lyric Theatre. In 1986 he presented a show on Channel 4 on ventriloquism, called A Gottle of Geer, which he later adapted into a book.[1]

Alan continued to perform into his seventies, doing tours, performing in plays, and undertaking conference and corporate events.[1] In 1998/1999 he entertained guests on the QE2. He took a break from stage work due to ill health but he did not rule out a return, if his health had permitted. His last stage appearance was in November 2008 when he performed at a special charity concert in Bridlington organised by his friend Greg Knight who was MP for the town. At the end of his performance he received a standing ovation.

Writing

Alan wrote four novels: Death and Deception in 2007 and A Game of Murder in 2008 (both published by Robert Hale), A Fear of Vengeance (2010, published by FA Thorpe) and Retribution (2011, published posthumously by Robert Hale).[1]

He also wrote for Tony Hancock, Dave Allen and for the shows Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies and Bootsie and Snudge, usually under the name Ray Whyberd.

Personal life

Alan married Greta Motherwell in 1956; they divorced in 1972. He was in a relationship with Barbie Hayes in the 1980s. He married Jane Laycock in 1991.[1]

Alan lived in Reigate, Surrey.[6] He died from complications of pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, on 24 May 2010, at the age of 79.[1]

Media appearances

Television

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Alan was also the presenter of the panel game Where in the World and of the children's quiz show It's Your Word.[5] He also hosted Cartoon Carnival and made many appearances on later game shows such as Celebrity Squares, Give Us A Clue, Family Fortunes, 3-2-1, Bullseye and The Bob Monkhouse Show. Alan also appeared on The Des O'Connor Show and on Blue Peter.

Radio

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Template:Link note
  2. ↑ a b Who's Who on Television (1982), ITV Books, Michael Joseph, p.6, Template:ISBN
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Ray_Alan&oldid=4875580"