Entertainer Keith Harris dies at 67

[dutchman]

Entertainer Keith Harris, best known for performances with his puppet Orville, has died, aged 67.



His agent Robert C Kelly confirmed the news on Twitter.

"Sad to announce death from cancer of my client, dear friend and great talent, Keith Harris," he wrote.

Harris had his own BBC One Saturday night programme The Keith Harris Show and had a top 10 hit with Orville's Song, popularly known as I Wish I Could Fly, in 1982.

Orville was his most famous creation - an innocent green duck in an oversized nappy, who was relentlessly taunted by Harris's other character, Cuddles the monkey.

Among those paying tribute were singer and broadcaster Aled Jones, who said: "Sad to hear of the death of Keith Harris - sending best wishes to his family and friends."

"So sad," tweeted presenter Keith Chegwin. "A great entertainer and all round nice man Keith Harris has passed away. Best wishes to his family at this sad time. RIP x"

Comedian Julian Clary described Harris as a "lovely, funny talented man."

The Keith Harris Show ran for eight years from 1982 to 1990, and the entertainer appeared on a total of five Royal, and Children's Royal Variety Performances.

At the personal request of Diana, Princess of Wales, Keith gave private performances at Highgrove House for Prince William's third birthday and then at Kensington Palace for Prince Harry's third birthday.

In the 2000s, he reinvented himself as an X-rated ventriloquist, touring student unions with his adult show, Duck Off.

He appeared in the 2002 documentary When Louis met Keith Harris; and won the Channel Five reality show The Farm in 2005.

He continued to appear in pantomime and at holiday camps, but was diagnosed with cancer of the spleen in 2013.

After having the spleen removed, he endured four months of chemotherapy and was given the all-clear, allowing him to return to the stage.

But last summer, he told an audience in Great Yarmouth the illness had returned and he needed further treatment. He was moved to tears when they gave him a standing ovation.

The entertainer leaves behind his fourth wife Sarah, and his children Kitty and Shenton; as well as a daughter, Skye, from his first marriage to singer Jacqui Scott and his mother Lila and brother Colin.

[dutchman]

The Coventry woman who brought Keith Harris' Orville the Duck to life



The bright green duck, who wore a nappy, was made in a workshop on the outskirts of Coventry by June Pullon.

The Coventry mum-of-one brought to life some of Britain’s best-loved children’s TV characters.

And from a workshop in Fillongley she created Keith Harris’ famous feathered friend - who during the late 70s and early 80s became a household name.

June, who was born in Birmingham, appeared with Englebert Humperdink and met her husband, Peter Michael, a Belgrade Theatre prop designer in Coventry, while touring with Rolf Harris.

During her showbiz career - which spanned more than 30 years - she has made countless cuddly characters come to life, including Sooty and the Honey Monster.

She was responsible for about half a dozen Mr Blobby costumes, and before that helped create Roger De Courcey’s Nookie Bear.

Ken Dodd’s Diddymen were shaped by June, as well as the Smash potato martians and a roller-skating Panda for Kit Kat.

June and her husband moved their business from Coventry to Fillongley in 1972 and she made the decision to sell the workshop in Wood End Lane in 2003.

She told the Telegraph at the time: “It’s been an enjoyable life, it’s kept me young, but now I’m ready to do something else.”