He is, by far, one of our funniest entertainers, one of our most talented actors and writers and just a genuine gentleman all round.
So when veteran comic, Roy Hudd took to the stage at Windsor’s Theatre Royal for the final night of Windsor Festival’s week long run of excellent productions at the venue, it was a delight to see a huge turnout for one of the greats.
The 73-year-old doyen of stage and screen delighted an enraptured audience as former Theatre Royal Director, Mark Piper, interviewed this most genial of thespians.
I say ‘tried’ because no sooner was Roy on stage then he went into anecdote after anecdote as we were treated to excerpts from his life now penned in his new book, A Fart in a Colander.
It was more a case of reining him in and keeping him on track, but with great wisdom and not a little amusement Mark allowed this most wonderful of gents to just spin the yarns, stepping in gently to remind him of the time and prompt another chapter in Roy’s remarkable life.
From being evacuated during World War II with his brother Peter from bomb threatened Croydon to Maidford near Northampton to his first sexual encounter aged six to going back home only to be told his mother had committed suicide by putting her head in the gas oven, Roy’s life is an tale in itself.
“Your mum’s dead and there’s no Father Christmas”, he was told by his gran, Alice, sitting by the now defunct Anderson shelter in the garden. “What a double whammy”, he revealed.
He also revealed how he was baby sat by a young Edward Woodward, who would go on to be one of our finest actors, his life as a Butlins Red Coat at Clacton, working with legendary comedian, Max Miller and being a character witness for Ken Dodd during Doddy’s trial on income tax evasion charges.
More personal reminiscences about life in the RAF doing National Service, his gran saving every penny so they could sit in ‘the gods’ each week for the variety show at Croydon and seeing his future develop in the Boys’ Club concert party made for a touching evening of wit, charm and grace.
We were treated to wonderful stories about his 26 years on BBC radio with the News Huddlines and how he inspired a new breed of comedy writers like David Renwick (One Foot in the Grave), and Douglas Adams (he Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy).
The fart in the colander reference comes from a song his gran used to sing to him called The Hole in the Elephant’s Bottom. ‘Doesn’t he ever sit still,’ people would say. ‘No,’ said his gran, ‘He’s like a fart in a colander.’ Thank you for being so lively Mr Hudd. Without such energetic and mesmeric mastery of the English language and an abundant love of entertaining, above all making them laugh at both themselves and the absurd, where would be?
A truly memorable evening with a truly legendary and towering figure in British entertainment history. What a joy.
Paul Thomas
