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Brief But Memorable - Ray Alan

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BobbyMay 12, 2010
 

 
Someone else I consider for the Brief But Memorable category is Ray Alan. He made 4 appearances overall during the mid to late 70's, although i will say that I feel that his first two appearances were far more interesting than his last two.

The first two episodes that featured Ray as a guest were also quite amusing in some respects, i think because I believe the first episode that featured Ray Alan began with Clement pretty much dominating the first two rounds. and in the second round featured I believe the second attempt to challenge Clement for deviation for making lists of things, and it was the first time that the challenge had been denied, although it would be some 15 or 20 years later before Wendy Richard would come onboard and make it an issue.

anyway, getting back to Ray Alan. I thought he did awfully well, especially on subjects that were suited to him, which tended to involve things pertaining to his stock and trade: ventriloquism. and he frequently was able to go the full 60 seconds, and I believe on his second appearance, he was exceptionally funny during the subject of 'Gread and Gutter'.

I believe what I also found quite amusing about Ray Alan's appearances on the program, at least his first two, was that when he first challenged, he only did so to make this grand explanation about what a pleasure it was to be on the program with someone like Kenneth Williams, and also towards the final round on his second appearance interrupted to basically say how much fun he had. And this basically became something of a running gag, becuse then Clement and Peter start doing the same thing, just interrupting to say wat a pleasure it is to be on the program with Kenneth, and so on. thus ensuring that Kenneth finished the program as the outright winner.

here is the official information about Ray Alan as provided by Wikipedia:

Born in Greenwich, London on the 18th of September 1930, educated at Morden Terrace School, Lewisham,[1] Ray Alan was introduced to the world of entertainment at a young age, entering a talent contest at the age of five. He often performed at the Lewisham Hippodrome Theatre as a teenager, and then started to entertain private functions. By this stage, Alan had introduced ventriloquism into his act, along with playing the ukulele.

Alan toured in cabaret all over the world and performed with Laurel and Hardy in 1954, (the former of whom had provided inspiration for the appearance of Alan's most famous creation, Lord Charles, who first appeared at a charity show in Wormwood Scrubs Prison, London). He appeared on the BBC programme The Good Old Days regularly, and created the puppet character Ali Cat for the HTV series Magic Circle (1977). He was also the presenter for two years of the BBC show Ice Show. In 1985 he was a special guest for Bob Hope's birthday show at London's Lyric Theatre.

Alan still performs tours and also undertakes conference and corporate events. In 1998/1999 he entertained guests on the QE2. He has also written for many shows, including a documentary entitled A Gottle of Geer for Channel 4, and the ITV show And There's More in 1985 which starred Jimmy Cricket. He has written two novels 'Death and Deception' in 2007 and 'A Game of Murder' in 2008, both published by Robert Hale. Since 2008 he has taken a break from stage work due to ill health but he does not rule out a return, should his health permit.

His professional credits include:

The Tich and Quackers Show (1966)
Ice Show (1969)
Magic Circle (1977)
Three Little Words (Circa 1980)
Mike Reid's Mates and Music (1984)
Bobby Davro's TV Weekly (1987)

he's also been on 'Celebrity Squares', 'The Bob Monkhouse Show', 'Give Us A Clue', 'Bullseye', '3, 2, 1', and 'Family Fortunes'.

I will now open upth floor to anyone wo wises to share their thoughts on thi fine gentleman.

 
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