My 70's TV Childhood

Rod Hull and That Bloody Bird

Oliver Colling Season 7 Episode 44

Join me as I dig into the dusty archives of My 70's TV Childhood Towers to explore one of the most popular but slightly bizarre double acts in British television: Rod Hull and Emu.

If you were growing up in the 70s and early 80s, you'll almost certainly remember the bizarre sight of one man and an arm-length emu puppet tearing through TV studios, visiting school-holiday specials, wrestling chat-show hosts, and generally causing mayhem. Today we'll look at how the act started, why it resonated, the iconic moments, and how it all came to an abrupt and tragic end plus what it left behind.

From their big break on The Royal Variety Show in 1972 to the infamous attack on Michael Parkinson, from Emu's Broadcasting Company on BBC to the pink windmill of Emu's World on ITV, discover how Rod Hull and Emu became one of the most memorable acts in British television history.

Whether it was attacking the Queen Mother's flowers, rolling around on stage with Dickie Henderson, or causing chaos on Johnny Carson's show in America, this double act brought anarchic energy and slapstick comedy that defined children's television.

Do you remember Billy Dainty, Barbara New as the tea lady, or Grotbags the green witch? These beloved characters remind us how much television history gets lost in the mists of time.

Take care, 

Oliver

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