Barry Fantoni facts for kids

Barry Ernest Fantoni (born February 28, 1940 – died May 20, 2025) was a talented British writer, cartoonist, and jazz musician. He was best known for his work with the famous magazine Private Eye, where he also created a fictional football team called Neasden F.C.. Besides his cartooning, he also wrote books about Chinese astrology and a mystery novel.

Barry Fantoni's Life Story

Barry Fantoni grew up in London's East End. His father was Italian, and his mother had French and Dutch Jewish roots. Both of his parents were gifted musicians.

School Days and Art Studies

Fantoni went to Archbishop Temple School in London. When he was 14, he won a special art scholarship called the Wedgewood Scholarship. This allowed him to study at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts from 1954 to 1958. While there, he started the school's first jazz group, a film club, and a drama group.

Working with Private Eye

In 1963, Fantoni joined the team at Private Eye, a popular satirical magazine. He helped create some of the magazine's most famous characters. He appeared in almost every issue of the magazine until he retired in 2010. He also wrote scripts for the BBC TV show That Was the Week That Was in 1962.

TV and Radio Work

In 1966, Fantoni hosted his own short-lived BBC TV show called A Whole Scene Going. This show focused on new trends in art and culture. Famous model Twiggy made her first TV appearance on the show. Music groups like The Who, The Kinks, and The Pretty Things also performed on it. For his work on the show, Fantoni was named Male TV Personality of the Year. He also drew the pictures for the sheet music of the song "Let's go to San Francisco" by The Flowerpot men.

He later appeared on BBC Radio shows like Fighting Talk and Private Passions.

The Poet E. J. Thribb

Fantoni is the creator of a funny, fictional poet named E. J. Thribb. Thribb is supposedly the "poet-in-residence" at Private Eye magazine. His poems are usually about famous people who have recently passed away. They always begin with the line "So, farewell then...".

Thribb's poems often mention the deceased person's well-known saying or theme song. They also frequently feature his friend Keith, or Keith's mum, who often does something "like" the person being written about. The poems are written in a style that seems like a continuous flow of thoughts, just broken up into lines.

Films He Worked On

Fantoni also worked on some films:

• Just Like a Woman (1967)
• The Strange Affair (1968)
• Otley (1968)