Bob Carolgees (born Robert Johnson, May 12 1948 in Birmingham, UK) is a comedy entertainer who used to appear on the Saturday morning TV series Tiswas and later its adult versions O.T.T. and Saturday Stayback. He is famed for appearing with a puppet named Spit the Dog.
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Career
Carolgees first appeared in a guest spot on Tiswas on the 31 March 1979.[1] Main presenter Chris Tarrant's first words to him were "I don't know who the f--- you are, but stand there, you're going to be on the telly, it's great!" Clowning around with a monkey puppet Charlie, Bob went down very well with the viewing audience and after being invited back for several guest spots he soon became a team presenter.[2] Carolgees, in pyjamas and headband was also the Tiswas character Houdi Elbow, a comedy psychic and magician. As well as gaining national fame with these and Spit the Dog, he was also part of The Four Bucketeers who made the UK Top 30 in 1980, even making a Top of the Pops appearance.[3] Carolgees went on to work for eight years alongside Cilla Black in Surprise, Surprise and he was for nearly two decades one of the foremost entertainers to entertain the British armed forces around the world.[4] He also fronted pop/game show Hold Tight!, produced by Granada Television for Children's ITV and game show Concentration. [5] In the 1980s, and at the height of his popularity, Bob famously dressed as an overgrown brummy/scouse schoolboy to feature in a series of Hellmann's Mayonnaise press and television commercials for 8 years. Bob now owns a candle shop - Carolgees Candles - in Frodsham, Cheshire, but temporarily came out of show business retirement to appear with all his old colleagues in Tiswas Reunited on ITV on 16 June 2007.[6]
Spit The Dog auction
An early Spit the Dog puppet (Bob has made three over the years) recently raised over £5,000 at a Christie's auction[7]
Stage Name
The name Carolgees comes from friends Carole and George Dunmore. Bob & George owned a record shop called Carolgees Records & Cassettes and also had a mobile disco called Carolgees Cabaret Disco which became extremely popular around Merseyside and which is where Bob developed his act. [8]
Peter Kay references
Bob is mentioned in almost all episodes of That Peter Kay Thing and appeared in a couple of episodes as himself. [9] He and Spit the Dog can briefly be seen hosting a Trisha style early morning discussion show in Peter Kay's follow up comedy Phoenix Nights. he can also be seen on the back of a leaflet in the toilets in the first episode. [10]
References
- ^ Tiswas Online list of Bob Carolgees appearances (07.05.2007).
- ^ 'Later Magazine' Tiswas article (09-1999).
- ^ Top of the Pops Videoclips (07.05.2007).
- ^ Spit the Dog sale fetches £5,000 (05.06.2004).
- ^ Bob Carolgees at ukgameshows.com (07.05.2007).
- ^ ITV Media - Tiswas Reunited (07.05.2007).
- ^ Spit the Dog sale fetches £5,000 (05.06.2004).
- ^ Totally Tiswas - Show One (16.06.2007).
- ^ BBC Guide To Comedy - That Peter Kay Thing (07.05.2007).
- ^ Bob Carolgees at IMDB (07.05.2007).
