Roy Hudd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roy Hudd
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Hudd in 2005
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| Born | 16 May 1936 |
| Died | 15 March 2020 (aged 83) |
| Resting place | All Saints' Church, Crowfield, Suffolk, England |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1957–2020 |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Lambert (divorced) Debbie Flitcroft
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 1 |
Roy Hudd, who was also known as an OBE, was a famous English comedian, actor, and radio host. He was born on May 16, 1936, and passed away on March 15, 2020. Roy was also an expert on the history of music hall entertainment, which is a type of British entertainment popular in the past.
Contents
Roy Hudd's Early Life
Roy Hudd was born in Croydon, England, on May 16, 1936. He was mostly raised by his grandmother. Roy went to Tavistock Secondary Modern School and Croydon Secondary Technical School.
After finishing school, he studied commercial art at the Regent Street Polytechnic. He then worked in different jobs, like being a messenger for an advertising company. He also worked as a window dresser and a commercial artist.
Roy started his career as a comedian on October 27, 1957. He performed at the Streatham Hill Theatre. At first, he worked with his friend Eddy Kay. They called themselves "the peculiar pair." In 1958, they both became Redcoats at Butlin's Clacton. This is where they worked alongside famous people like Cliff Richard and Dave Allen.
Roy Hudd on the Radio
Roy Hudd first appeared on radio by himself in 1959. This was on a show called Workers' Playtime.
He became very well known for his BBC Radio 2 comedy show, The News Huddlines. This show made fun of the news and ran for a long time, from 1975 to 2001.
Roy also lent his voice to other radio shows. He played Max Quordlepleen in the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in 1978. He also appeared in shows like Crowned Hudds, The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, and Like They've Never Been Gone.
Roy Hudd on Television
Roy Hudd started working in television in the mid-1960s. He appeared in comedy sketch shows like The Illustrated Weekly Hudd and The Roy Hudd Show.
He also took on many acting roles. He was praised for his part in the Dennis Potter series Lipstick on Your Collar. He also appeared in Karaoke.
In the 1990s, Roy was in two seasons of Common As Muck. This was a drama about a group of refuse collectors, where he acted alongside Edward Woodward. In 2000, he played a neighbor, Mr. Smedley, in an episode of One Foot in the Grave.
From 2002 to 2003, he played the undertaker Archie Shuttleworth in the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He returned for guest appearances in 2006 and 2010. His character, Archie, passed away off-screen in 2018.
Roy also starred in the ITV drama The Quest from 2002 to 2004. In this show, he acted with Sir David Jason. In 2007, he appeared in episodes of New Tricks, Casualty, and The Last Detective. He was in Casualty again in 2019. In 2010, he appeared in BBC dramas Missing and Ashes to Ashes.
Later in his career, Roy continued to act on TV. In 2010, he was in two episodes of Just William. In 2012, he appeared in an episode of the BBC drama Call the Midwife. In 2014, he was in Midsomer Murders, Law & Order: UK, and Holby City.
In December 2015, Roy played the role of Bud Flanagan in the BBC drama We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story. This show was about how the famous sitcom Dad's Army was created. In 2016, he appeared in an episode of Benidorm. His last TV appearance was in 2017, in the ITV series Broadchurch.
Roy Hudd's Stage Appearances
Roy Hudd performed in many pantomime shows and variety performances on stage. In 1977, he played Fagin in the musical Oliver! in London's West End.
In 1982, he played Bud Flanagan in a show called Underneath the Arches. For this role, he won a special award called the Society of West End Theatre Award. In 2000, he starred in a musical version of Hard Times.
In 2008, Roy played the Wizard in a production of The Wizard of Oz at London's Royal Festival Hall. He also played Tom Oakley in Goodnight Mister Tom in 2018. This play was at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, which his wife said was "a theatre he absolutely loved." In 2019, he toured the UK in Oscar Wilde's play A Woman of No Importance.
Roy Hudd and Music Hall
Roy Hudd was a big fan and expert on music hall entertainment. He wrote several books about it. He also re-recorded old music hall songs and appeared in a revival show called The Good Old Days.
People in broadcasting saw him as a top expert on music hall. He was also the long-time President of the British Music Hall Society. His CD, Mirth, Magic and Melodrama, has classic stories and songs from the music hall era. These include The Pig and The Lion and Albert, which were first recorded by Stanley Holloway.
In 2014, Roy appeared on Celebrity Mastermind. For his specialist subject, he answered questions about the music hall comedian Dan Leno.
He was also an expert on the comedian Max Miller. Roy was known for how well he could pretend to be Max Miller. He even played his hero in a Doctor Who audio play called Pier Pressure in 2006. Roy was also the President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society.
Roy Hudd's Charity Work
Roy Hudd was very involved with the Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service. He was considered an honorary member there. In 1994, he officially opened their studios at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
He was also the "King Rat" of a show business charity called the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1989 and 2000.
Additionally, Roy was the first Honorary President of Sandwell Hospital Radio in West Bromwich. He held this role for ten years. He would visit the studios, meet members, and talk to patients whenever he was performing in the West Midlands.
Personal Life and Passing
Roy Hudd was given an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 2004. This was for his great contributions to entertainment. In 1983, he won the Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical. This was for his role as Bud Flanagan in Underneath the Arches.
On November 29, 2010, the University of Westminster gave Roy Hudd an honorary degree. This was a special award called a Doctor of Letters. He had studied commercial art there when it was known as the Regent Street Polytechnic.
Roy Hudd passed away on March 15, 2020, at the age of 83. His agent announced his death the next day. He died at Ipswich Hospital after a short illness.
Images for kids
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Hudd in 2005
