Derek Roy (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Derek Roy was a British comedian famous in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
His BBC Radio
show 'Hip Hip Hoo Roy" was written by amongst others Spike Milligan
, and was the show where Milligan's Goon Show character Eccles first appeared. Roy's unsuccessful star-vehicle 'Happy Go Lucky' also gave the first writing break to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who would soon team up with the shows last producer Dennis Main Wilson
to make Hancock's Half Hour
.
Roy also hosted Variety Bandbox
, a talent show that made famous the likes of Michael Bentine
, Jimmy Edwards
, Tony Hancock
, Alfred Marks
, Morecambe and Wise
, Harry Secombe
, Peter Sellers
, Graham Stark
and Harry Worth
.
Derek Roy was a resident of the large Art Deco apartment block, Du Cane Court
, where he is remembered by the older residents: "He was short, plump, and wore glasses; and besides being a stand-up comedian, he featured on an amusing radio variety show. He was well liked, well known and very vulgar. He lived in B11 and had a large dog which he would take on stage as part of his act."
He appeared in the movie 'Dance With Me' alongside Anne Shelton and Max Wall
. In 1955 he also appeared on the first night of ITV
.
His BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
show 'Hip Hip Hoo Roy" was written by amongst others Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
, and was the show where Milligan's Goon Show character Eccles first appeared. Roy's unsuccessful star-vehicle 'Happy Go Lucky' also gave the first writing break to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who would soon team up with the shows last producer Dennis Main Wilson
Dennis Main Wilson
Dennis Main Wilson was a British producer of radio and television programmes, mainly for the BBC.-Biography:...
to make Hancock's Half Hour
Hancock's Half Hour
Hancock's Half Hour was a BBC radio comedy, and later television comedy, series of the 1950s and 60s written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The series starred Tony Hancock, with Sid James; the radio version also co-starred, at various times, Moira Lister, Andrée Melly, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr...
.
Roy also hosted Variety Bandbox
Variety Bandbox
Variety Bandbox was a British radio variety show transmitted by BBC Radio on the Light Programme. Featuring a mixture of comic performances and music, the show helped to launch the careers of a number of leading British performers....
, a talent show that made famous the likes of Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine CBE was a British comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons. A Peruvian Briton by heritage as a result of his father's nationality, In 1971 Bentine received the Order of Merit of Peru because of his fund-raising work for the 1970 Great Peruvian...
, Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
, Tony Hancock
Tony Hancock
Anthony John "Tony" Hancock was an English actor and comedian.-Early life and career:Hancock was born in Southam Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, England, but from the age of three was brought up in Bournemouth, where his father, John Hancock, who ran the Railway Hotel in...
, Alfred Marks
Alfred Marks
Alfred Edward Marks OBE was a comic actor and comedian.-Biography:Marks was born as Ruchel Kutchinsky in Holborn, London. He left Bell Lane School at 14 and started in entertainment at the Windmill Theatre. He then served in the RAF as a Flight Sergeant in the Middle East where he arranged...
, Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
, Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
, Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, Graham Stark
Graham Stark
Graham Stark is an English comedian, actor, writer and director.Stark was born in Wallasey on the Wirral in Cheshire, England. He first came to prominence on BBC Radio, making his debut in Happy Go Lucky and going on to Ray's A Laugh, Educating Archie and substitute on The Goon Show...
and Harry Worth
Harry Worth
Harry Worth was an English comedy actor and comedian...
.
Derek Roy was a resident of the large Art Deco apartment block, Du Cane Court
Du Cane Court
Du Cane Court is an Art Deco apartment block on Balham High Road, Balham, south London. A distinctive local landmark, it was opened in 1937 and, with 676 apartments, is the largest privately owned block of flats under one roof in Europe...
, where he is remembered by the older residents: "He was short, plump, and wore glasses; and besides being a stand-up comedian, he featured on an amusing radio variety show. He was well liked, well known and very vulgar. He lived in B11 and had a large dog which he would take on stage as part of his act."
He appeared in the movie 'Dance With Me' alongside Anne Shelton and Max Wall
Max Wall
Max Wall , was an English comedian and actor, whose performing career covered music hall, theatre, films and television.-Early years:...
. In 1955 he also appeared on the first night of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.