Chuckle Brothers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chuckle Brothers |
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Barry (left) and Paul (right) in 2008
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| Born | Barry David Elliott 24 December 1944 Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England Paul Harman Elliott 18 October 1947 Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | Barry: 5 August 2018 (aged 73) Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
| Medium |
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| Years active | Barry: 1963–2018 Paul: 1963–present |
| Genres | |
| Spouse | Paul:
Sue
(m. 1988)Barry: Anne
(m. 1973) |
| Relative(s) | Patton Brothers (brothers) Pete and Sophie Sandiford (nephew and niece) |
| Notable works and roles | ChuckleHounds (1985–1986) ChuckleVision (1987–2009) To Me... To You... (1996–1998) Chuckle Time (2018) |
The Chuckle Brothers were a famous English comedy team made up of real-life brothers Barry David Elliott (born 24 December 1944 – died 5 August 2018) and Paul Harman Elliott (born 18 October 1947). They were best known for their fun BBC children's TV show, ChuckleVision. This show ran for many years, from 1987 to 2009. The Chuckle Brothers' comedy often involved slapstick (funny physical comedy), other visual jokes, and clever wordplay. Their most famous sayings were "To me, to you!" and "Oh dear, oh dear!"
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Early Life and Family Fun
The brothers, Barry and Paul, were born in Rotherham, England. Their dad, James Patton Elliott, was also a performer. He used the stage name Gene Patton and performed in many places around the world.
Barry and Paul had two older brothers, Jimmy and Brian. They were known as the Patton Brothers. Jimmy and Brian even appeared in ChuckleVision sometimes! Jimmy played a character known as "No Slacking," and Brian played "Getoutofit."
The Chuckle Brothers first became more widely known when they supported singer Dorothy Squires in her shows.
Chuckle Brothers' Career Highlights
Television Adventures
The Chuckle Brothers, performing as The Harman Brothers, first won a TV talent show called Opportunity Knocks in 1967. They also did well on New Faces in 1974. They started their TV careers as a comedy duo in 1979.
Their main work was for children's television. In 1985, they launched a show for younger kids called Chuckle Hounds. In this show, they wore giant dog costumes and performed funny routines without talking.
Their biggest success in children's TV came in 1987 with their popular show, ChuckleVision. This show was a huge hit with kids and ran for 21 series over 22 years! For their amazing work, they received a Special Award for Lifetime Achievement at the British Academy Children's Awards in 2008. The last series of ChuckleVision aired in 2009.
The brothers also performed at the Children's Royal Variety Performance in 1992. They even had a children's game show called To Me... To You... from 1996 to 1998, named after their famous saying.
Outside of children's shows, the Chuckle Brothers appeared in other TV series. They won the 2010 series of Celebrity Coach Trip. They also appeared in sketches for Comic Relief in 2013 and 2015, helping to raise money for charity. In 2018, they started a new show called Chuckle Time on Channel 5.
Live Stage Shows
Paul and Barry performed live on stage in theaters all over the UK. Their yearly tours often included their brothers, The Patton Brothers, and other performers. Their shows were full of comedy and parody (funny imitations).
Some of their popular stage shows included Pirates of the River Rother (2005) and Doctor What and the Return of the Garlics (2006). They also performed in many pantomimes (traditional Christmas plays). Their first pantomime was Babes in the Wood in 1967. Their last pantomime together was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2017-2018, for which they won an award for Best Double Act.
Paul has continued to appear in pantomimes since Barry's passing.
Other Fun Appearances
From 2014 to 2018, the brothers visited many nightclubs and student events. They would perform short sets and take photos with fans. After Barry's death, Paul continued these appearances.
In 2016, they even appeared in a fun video to promote a computer game called Hitman. In 2017, both brothers were in a short film about a famous clown named Joseph Grimaldi.
Paul has also appeared on quiz shows for charity, like Pointless Celebrities and Celebrity Mastermind, after Barry's death.
Music and Games
In 1995, the Chuckle Brothers released an album called To You to Me. Many songs on the album were based on their famous sayings.
In 2014, they worked with rapper Tinchy Stryder to release a charity song called "To Me, To You (Bruv)". This song helped raise money for a good cause. In 2015, they performed at a big music festival called Bestival, playing for a huge crowd.
In 2016, the Chuckle Brothers released their first mobile app game called "Chuckle World." It was a quiz game for phones and tablets.
Personal Life and Legacy
The brothers often attended special events and openings. They were big fans of Rotherham United Football Club and were made Honorary Life Presidents of the club in 2007.
Barry was married to Ann from 1973 until his death. Paul has been married to Sue since 1988.
There was a false rumor that Barry Chuckle had died, which circulated online for years. The brothers even had to put a statement on their website saying it was "complete and utter rubbish." These hoaxes upset young fans and Barry himself.
Barry's Passing
On 5 August 2018, Barry sadly passed away after a period of illness. Paul shared his sadness, saying he had lost not just his brother, but also his comedy partner and best friend.
Paul later shared that Barry had been diagnosed with a serious illness, but he had kept it private because he wanted to keep performing for as long as possible. Barry's funeral was held at the New York Stadium, the home of Rotherham United Football Club. Many friends from show business attended, and a large number of fans gathered outside to show their respect.
